I get that, especially in the context of parenting. I'll be honest that I'm probably a bit more eager to pounce on a Bama fan, given that I am an Irish fan and watched that national championship game live... I still turn off Sweet Home Alabama to this day, despite liking Lynyrd Skynyrd. But I digress.
I think with Mayfield, he has better than an average arm, his height is below average but nothing that will hold him back, and his off-the-field issues are not worrisome. I think Mayfield and McCarron both show signs that they could be successful in the NFL, and that they both possess the fire and drive you described McCarron as having. They both seem to motivate their teammates effectively. A lot of McCarron's success in college, while no doubt due to his play, is also the product of how stacked was his entire team.
McCarron in college: 66.9% completed for 9,019 yards; 77 TDs; and 15 INTs
Mayfield in college: 68.5% completed for 14,607 yards; 131 TDs; and 30 INTs
Looks like Mayfield had a more productive, but less winning career than did McCarron. Like I said though, I think both have potential to be NFL starters.