Rams' Sean McVay spent over three hours chatting with Baker Mayfield before 2018 NFL Draft

Perhaps the new partnership between Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Baker Mayfield was meant to be all along. 

Mayfield recently told NBC Sports' Peter King how he was working out in southern California ahead of the scouting combine that preceded the 2018 NFL Draft. Mayfield later walked by McVay as the two were on the same flight traveling from LAX to Indianapolis, and the coach asked the quarterback to have a seat even though the Rams wouldn't be spending a high draft selection on a signal-caller that spring due to having Jared Goff on their roster. 

"We really started talking about Lincoln Riley and his scheme, what makes him such a good coach, how I saw the game," Mayfield told King about what was roughly "a three-and-a-half-hour chat." Riley coached Mayfield when both were associated with the Oklahoma Sooners. 

"Then we talked about concepts," Mayfield continued. "We started drawing some stuff up in my notepad. One hundred percent it did not feel like an interview. He was genuinely interested in some of the things that we did at Oklahoma to have that success. To me that was so eye-opening to see a guy at the NFL level, that had had so much success leading up to that point, still asking a college kid about a college scheme and what we were doing." 

The Rams claimed Mayfield off waivers from the Carolina Panthers last Tuesday and then got him as ready for action as possible for the "Thursday Night Football" matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Mayfield completed 22-of-35 passes for 230 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions against the Raiders. The 27-year-old generated headlines when he guided the Rams on a late 98-yard game-winning drive for a 17-16 victory. 

King asked the first pick from the 2018 draft to rank this past Thursday's result among his many accomplishments from high school to his four-season tenure with the Cleveland Browns. 

"...This might be number one, to be honest with you," Mayfield responded. "With 48 hours from getting here till game-time, this is number one for me. It’s not just the moment. It’s everything that led up to it. It’s just special. Unforgettable." 

McVay and Mayfield are now preparing for the 4-9 Rams to play at the 5-8 Green Bay Packers in another primetime showdown next Monday night.