Why the Cleveland Browns may be forced to pay Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield hasn’t given the Cleveland Browns everything they were hoping for but they may have to pay him big money anyway.
Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns are in a make-it-or-break-it season. The Browns are currently 5-4 and in third place in the AFC North. Entering the season, Cleveland was viewed as a Super Bowl contender with arguably the best roster on paper in the NFL. However, injuries and inconsistency have let the Browns down — particularly, Mayfield. The 26-year-old quarterback has eight touchdowns and three interceptions through eight games while playing with a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
The elephant in the room is the decision looming in the Browns’ front office about whether or not it wants to make Mayfield the franchise’s quarterback. His play has been underwhelming and disappointing with the fact that he has everything that he needs around him — a strong running game, a top-three offensive line, and a coach who puts him in the best situation possible pre-snap.
However, if you look at the quarterback market this offseason, it is bleak at best. Yes, Aaron Rodgers may be on the trading block and Deshaun Watson will most likely be traded, but none of these quarterbacks are a realistic option for the Browns. Not to mention, that this upcoming quarterback draft class is something to avoid. Mayfield may be the best, realistic option the Browns have at this point.
Baker Mayfield may be the best option for the Cleveland Browns, imperfect as he is
When you compare Baker Mayfield to the other young and upcoming quarterbacks in his own conference, it is alarming. Mayfield is in the midst of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Deshaun Watson (who may still stay in the AFC if he is expectedly traded to the Dolphins this offseason), and Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence are both viewed as better talents.
The league is becoming quarterback-centric. If you do not have a quarterback that can carry your franchise to a win or elevate the players around him, there will be major question marks with the signal caller. Mayfield arguably has the best roster and has the least amount of pressure on his shoulders when commanding the offense. All of the other quarterbacks named above have been heavily relied on to carry their respective teams’ at times.
But the Browns may find themselves in a worse situation if they move off of their current quarterback. A slight discount of $25 million could be a reasonable price. And there aren’t any answers coming in the 2022 draft class — Matt Corral, Malik Willis, Sam Howell, Carson Strong, Desmond Ridder, and Kenny Pickett. None of them are looked at as ‘set-in-stone’ prospects. According to Mel Kiper, the top three quarterbacks in the draft this upcoming April are Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis, and Matt Corral. Kiper does not have any of these quarterbacks inside the top 10 of his draft board.
In terms of pending free agents in 2022, the list is more underwhelming than the quarterbacks in the 2022 draft. Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill are on top of the free agent list this upcoming offseason. However, both are fringe NFL starting quarterbacks. Ben Roethlisberger is also on this list, but he should not be a quarterback in the NFL next season. Free agency is not a strong option to pick up a starting quarterback for the Browns.
All-in-all, the Browns are in a win-now mode, and unfortunately, Mayfield could be the best option at giving Cleveland a chance to win. Mayfield may not ever be able to lead the Browns to the promised land, but at the right price he is not a terrible option. Cleveland must be smart and diligent in how much money it throws at Mayfield this offseason.