Will Baker Mayfield be talked about like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen this season? Hey, Mary Kay!

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In this week’s Hey, Mary Kay! I answer questions about Baker Mayfield, the Browns’ offense, and more.

Hey, Mary Kay: What does Baker Mayfield have to do this season to be mentioned in the same breath as Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen? — Sean N., Chicago, Ill.

Hey, Sean: I think Mayfield does have the chance to climb up into the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks this season now that he’s in the second year of this offense. He has a mastery of it this season, and I believe that will translate to 30-plus touchdown passes, possibly single-digit interceptions, and a completion percentage approaching 70%.

Those are the numbers this offense is set up to produce, and Mayfield certainly has the talent to pull it off. He’s looked extremely confident in practice, and his footwork is getting consistent, which is vitally important. He has Odell Beckham Jr. back this year, and they’ll be dangerous together. He’s got everything a quarterback could want, including a defense that will get him the ball back in great field position. I think he’ll silence his critics this year and end in the top 10 in the NFL.

Hey, Mary Kay: Will the first offensive play be a run or pass to start the season? Who will get the ball? How do you think the offense will be different this year? — Ken M, Ponte Vedra, Florida.

Hey, Ken: I think the first play of the season will be a deep ball to either Odell Beckham Jr. or Anthony Schwartz. I think they’ll come out of the gate aggressively and try to get behind the defense and hit a big play for a touchdown right off the bat.

What a better way to start the game? They know they can’t fall behind the Chiefs, so they might as well get the shootout started early. Beckham is back to full speed coming off his torn ACL, and is ready to help carry this team. It would be a dramatic way to start the season, with a 60-plus yard catch and run for a TD. As for how the offense will be different this year, I think they’ll run more 11 personnel (or three-receiver sets) and I think they’ll have the speed to go deep more to Beckham and Schwartz. I also think they’ll change up the tempo more with some no huddle, and I think they’ll continue to be multiple, with many ways to attack a defense.

Hey Mary Kay: Thank you for all your hard work over what seemed like the longest off-season of all time. It’s game week! Do you think Malik McDowell and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah are ready for prime time? Will the defense have all of its horses come Sunday? Go Browns! #journeybeginsnow — Jeff Lerner, Avon, Ohio

Hey, Jeff: You’re welcome, and thanks for your great questions every week! I do think Malik McDowell and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah are ready to roll, and as I wrote a week ago, I think both should make their NFL starting debut at Arrowhead.

I think JOK brings so much speed and big-playmaking ability, he needs to be on the field from the jump. And McDowell is raw, but he’s so big and powerful, I wouldn’t hesitate to start him. He’s also 6-6, and can play some tall ball inside next to 6-5 Malik Jackson. They’ll make a few mistakes, but they’ll make up for them with big plays. The defense is as healthy as it’s been since the start of camp, and Joe Woods has his full complement of players. They’ll come in in waves to keep guys fresh.

Hey, Mary Kay: I think Kareem Hunt needs to have a giant game against the Chiefs. Are they going to give him the ball? What do you think? — Howard Snyder, Portland, Oregon

Hey, Howard: I think Hunt will touch the ball more than the seven times he did in the Chiefs’ 22-17 victory over the Browns in the AFC divisional round, with only six runs for 32 yards and one catch for 2 yards. Hunt has so much emotion for his former team, and I think the Browns should capitalize on that. Nick Chubb is still their workhorse, but Hunt is a No. 1 back in his own right, and can help the Browns more than he has, both in the running game and passing game. I actually think the Browns should use them on the field more often, but there are so many weapons on this offense, it remains to be seen if they’ll do that.

The Browns underused Kareem Hunt in the playoff loss to the Chiefs and should correct that today

Hey, Mary Kay: Will Odell Beckham Jr. play against the Chiefs? — Scott B., Cleveland, Ohio

Hey, Scott: Beckham has looked great in practice, and the plan all along has been for him to play in this game, as I’ve reported several times. Only 10 months out of ACL surgery, Beckham will play as long as he has no setbacks before the game. I believe he’ll be on somewhat of a pitch count, but I do expect him to test out the surgically repaired knee. He’s been running full speed and practicing as though he’ll play. He’s also ramped up in team drills over the past two weeks and has been part of the gameplan.