NFL: Top 25 boldest predictions for the rest of the season
By Nick Villano
NFL: Top 25 boldest predictions for the rest of the season: 4. Browns give Baker Mayfield a contract midseason
The Cleveland Browns are ending the Odell Beckham experiment because of his relationship with Baker Mayfield. There is nothing else. He went to college with Jarvin Landry and they seem to be really good friends. He’s never said anything volatile in the media, and everyone outside of Baker Mayfield says good things about him as a teammate.
The Browns clearly made their choice. They picked their quarterback. Not saying that Beckham had much of a future in Cleveland, but it’s clear they had a choice to make and they chose Mayfield. He’s actually up for a contract extension, but the Browns haven’t done it yet.
It’s not like he’s going to be a free agent. He is under contract technically until 2023, but franchise quarterbacks do not make it that long. Mayfield is set to make under $20 million next season, and then his contract is done. It’s not like he could just wait it out and get to the open market. The Browns would franchise tag Mayfield then decide his trade destination or force him to play for them.
The Browns showed that Mayfield is the number one guy by getting rid of Odell Beckham when his existence became a problem for Mayfield. Now, he will commit to that team with an extension midseason.