Browns Rumors: Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Haven't Exchanged Contract Proposals Yet
June 26, 2021
The Cleveland Browns and quarterback Baker Mayfield reportedly haven't talked numbers yet regarding a potential contract extension.
According to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, the two sides have communicated, but the discussions haven't been "substantive," and they have not exchanged proposals.
Mayfield—the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL draft—is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract. The Browns in April exercised his fifth-year option, meaning he is under contract through 2022.
Cabot noted that there is no sense of urgency by the Browns or Mayfield to get a deal done before training camp or even the start of the 2021 regular season since it is essentially inevitable that an extension will happen.
The Browns are reportedly fine with waiting on the extension since they are focused on signing running back Nick Chubb, cornerback Denzel Ward and right guard Wyatt Teller to extensions as well.
Mayfield's camp is reportedly willing to wait to see what fellow 2018 draftees Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson get when they sign extensions.
The Buffalo Bills' Allen and the Baltimore Ravens' Jackson have been more successful than Mayfield thus far, meaning their contracts could serve as barometers for Mayfield and the Browns.
Mayfield acquitted himself well as a rookie in 2018, completing 63.8 percent of his passes for 3,725 yards and 27 touchdowns with 14 interceptions en route to finishing second in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting to New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley.
There was some concern about whether Mayfield was Cleveland's franchise quarterback entering 2020, though, as his production dipped in 2019.
Mayfield completed just 59.4 percent of his pass attempts for 3,827 yards and 22 touchdowns with 21 interceptions as Cleveland went 6-10 after posting a 7-8-1 record.
The former University of Oklahoma standout essentially assured himself an extension last season, however, when he led the Browns to a 10-6 record and their first playoff berth since 2002, ending the NFL's longest drought at the time.
During the regular season, the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 3,563 yards and 26 touchdowns with a career-low eight interceptions.
Mayfield also helped the Browns beat the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in the AFC Wild Card Round, and he nearly led an upset of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional round.
Much of the Browns' success was predicated on their running game, spearheaded by Chubb and Kareem Hunt, but Mayfield ran the offense effectively and cut down on his mistakes significantly.
Given the strides Mayfield made, it is likely only a matter of time before the Browns lock him up.