Predicting who will be the Browns starting quarterback in 2022

Who will be under center for Cleveland at the end of Mayfield’s contract? 

Going into the 2019 NFL season, the Browns were arguably the most hyped up team in football.

They had Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. in their receiving core, along with a great running back in Nick Chubb, and a young, prolific quarterback in Baker Mayfield.

Despite high expectations, the Browns were a massive disappointment last season with the entire team struggling with penalties, the offensive line struggling with protection, and Mayfield going through a sophomore slump.

Now that Mayfield only has two years left on his rookie contract, the Browns must ask themselves who they should look to as the quarterback of the franchise in 2022, but the answer to that question is totally up to Mayfield himself.

If Baker Mayfield improves

During Mayfield’s rookie season, he was able to flash some great talent that made him a Heisman trophy winner with the Oklahoma Sooners and the No. 1 overall pick of that years’ draft. He started 13 games and had a 63.8 completion percentage along with 27 touchdown passes.

Mayfield then dropped off last season, finishing out the year with a 59.4 completion rate and 22 touchdown passes.

Mayfield drew a lot of ire for his lack luster performance in 2019,  but if he is able to improve from last season and at least recapture his rookie form he will certainly be signed to a contract that will keep him in Cleveland past 2022.

If Baker Mayfield stays the same

After Mayfield’s mediocre 2019 campaign, where he threw 22 touchdowns along with 21 interceptions, the Browns decided to sign quarterback Case Keenum to the squad.

Keenum had a surprisingly impressive season with the Vikings back in 2017 where he threw for 3547 yards and 22 touchdowns. 

He then had a solid season with the Broncos in ’18 where he threw for 3,890 yards, but also threw 15 interceptions compared to 18 touchdowns. And he then started eight games for Washington last season.

Keenum is not an amazing quarterback by any stretch of the imagination, but if Mayfield plays at the same level as he did last year over the next two seasons the Browns may look to Keenum, who is a solid, established veteran, to start in 2022 until a younger quarterback has time to develop and become a more permanent solution.

If Baker Mayfield gets worse

Although Mayfield certainly wasn’t impressive last season, it is possible that he could regress even further. And if Mayfield does play absolutely horribly in 2020, that should be a sign for Cleveland to start looking for a quarterback in the 2021 NFL draft.

The Browns most likely won’t be able to get the top quarterbacks in the 2021 draft in Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields, who will both be at least top-five picks. But they definitely could draft a good prospect like Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy or Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan, who are both talented quarterbacks that could fall into the second round.

Or if they are feeling bold enough, Cleveland is certainly capable of pulling off a trade that secures a top draft pick where they could draft Fields or Lawrence.