The first overall pick in 2018 NFL Draft had his fifth-year option picked up this year. Are the Cleveland Browns looking to lock up Baker Mayfield soon?
To say that the quarterback situation in the AFC North these days is fascinating would be a great understatement. Thanks to recent drafts, the division houses three Heisman Trophy winners in the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, Cleveland Browns‘ Baker Mayfield and Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers are still under the command of veteran Ben Roethlisberger, who has guided the franchise to three Super Bowl appearances and emerged with a pair of Lombardi Trophies.
While Big Ben is coming down the stretch of his tremendous career, the other three are just getting warmed up. Jackson was the league’s MVP in 2019. Mayfield (2018) and Burrow (2020) were the first overall picks in their respective drafts. Roethlisberger, Jackson and Mayfield all guided their teams to the playoffs this past season and the latter two came up with postseason victories.
Of course, Mayfield and Jackson are part of that top heavy quarterback class from the 2018 NFL Draft. There were four signal-callers selected within the first picks. Jackson was the final selection in that round by the Ravens, while Mayfield (Browns), Sam Darnold (Jets), Josh Allen (Bills) and Josh Rosen (Cardinals) went first, third, seventh and 10th, respectively.
So much for the history lesson. With the exception of Rosen (now with the 49ers), the other four first-round quarterbacks all had their fifth-year options picked up. That includes Darnold, now a member of the Panthers. And Cleveland’s current field general may soon cash in on a new deal via his agent Jack Mills.
"“We’re not going to be dragging it out,” he stated to Tony Grossi of the TheLandOnDemand.com. “I think there’s been enough contracts done for quarterbacks lately that give us a pretty good idea of what the market is. And, of course, we know that the (salary) cap isn’t going up this year but it’s going up next year and next…“We pretty much know what’s coming on down the road and what’s been done. We don’t have any particular reluctance about doing a deal.”"
Under 2020 NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski, Mayfield comes off a solid year. He hit on 62.8 percent of his throws and finished with more than twice as many touchdown passes (26) as turnovers (12). One year earlier, he hit on less than 60 percent of his throws, threw for 22 scores but gave up the football 23 times.
One playoff appearance and victory certainly doesn’t guarantee that this franchise has finally turned the corner. But good coaching via Stefanski and adept decision via general manager Andrew Berry are signs that the Cleveland Browns are headed in the proper direction. A new contract for the improving Mayfield (CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin speculates about a deal) not only speaks for his growth but for the entire organization as well.