Baker Mayfield: Josh Allen's $258M Contract Is 'Good for the Quarterback Position'

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield told reporters Sunday that Buffalo Bills signal-caller Josh Allen's six-year, $258 million extension is "good for the quarterback position" while noting his focus is on winning as opposed to landing a long-term contract with the team that took him No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL draft.

"I'm worried about winning," Mayfield said, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal. "I think the rest will take care of itself. It's good for the quarterback position overall. I'd be lying if we said otherwise, but I'm worried about winning right now. I don't know the timeline on it. We haven't talked about it because I'm worried about winning this season.”

Mayfield led last season's Browns to their first playoff appearance since 2002 and first playoff win since 1994.

The ex-Oklahoma star and 2017 Heisman Trophy winner completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 26 touchdowns (eight interceptions) and a career-high 7.7 adjusted yards per pass attempt. The Browns finished 11-5, their best regular-season mark since 1994.

Naturally, comparisons between Mayfield and Allen are inevitable considering the two were in the same draft class (the Bills took Allen No. 7 overall in 2018).

The Bills locked up Allen after a dominant 2020 season in which he accounted for 46 total touchdowns (37 passing, eight rushing, one receiving) and led Buffalo to a 13-3 record, AFC East title and AFC Championship Game appearance.

Mayfield looks like the long-term answer in Cleveland even if he has yet to finalize an extension. He is under contract with the Browns through 2022 after the team picked up his fifth-year option. However, whenever contract negotiations begin, Mayfield will likely benefit from Allen setting the quarterback market as he secures a massive extension.

Ulrich noted on July 30 that despite the fact that the Browns and Mayfield's camp hadn't engaged in substantial contractual talks, neither party is too concerned:

"Mayfield has emphasized he's not in a rush to sign a long-term deal, and both sides seem to be comfortable with where they stand partly because they have mutual interest in a long-term partnership and the quarterback is under contract through the 2022 season after [general manager Andrew] Berry exercised the fifth-year option on his rookie contract in April for $18.858 million guaranteed."

For now, Mayfield is focused on helping the Browns reach (and win) their first-ever Super Bowl. Cleveland last won an NFL title in 1964 during the pre-Super Bowl era.

The Browns will begin this year's campaign with a road game against the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 12.