Latest Baker Mayfield update puts QB’s future in his own hands

The Cleveland Browns are moving forward with Baker Mayfield in 2022 with his long-term future with the team in his own hands.

Will Baker Mayfield be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in 2022?

The answer is firmly a yes.

Will Baker Mayfield be the starting quarterback for the Browns in 2023?

That all depends on Mayfield and his performance this coming season.

Baker Mayfield’s future with the Browns dependent on 2022

During the NFL Combine, Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry reaffirmed Mayfield as the starting quarterback for Cleveland.

The Browns are not looking at other veteran quarterbacks, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. The rumored interest in Jimmy Garoppolo appears to be false “because they don’t view him as a clear-cut upgrade.”

So Mayfield is the guy for now, but this is very much a show-me year as the player and team are not working on an extension.

The plan is for Mayfield to play the fifth of his contract without future assurances. He’ll re-sign with the Browns if he proves to them that he is worthy of being their QB going forward. If not, the partnership will be at an end.

Mayfield is coming off shoulder surgery, so the boom-or-bust approach is a bit of a risk. Still, he is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery and looking to make a better impression once healthy.

In 2021, Mayfield went 6-8 while completing 60.5 percent of his passes and throwing 17 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. While he took several steps forward in 2020, this past season felt like a major step back.

The quarterback has to show that he can take the Browns back to the playoffs. If not, they’ll be prepared to move on without him.