Every quarterback situation in the NFL is slightly different. For Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns there are a ton of variables to unpack but, in the end, an extension should get done.
Rarely does a franchise quarterback end up on another team early in his career. The rare times one does move on is either later in their career or when an injury forces a situation.
Worst case scenario, like we saw with Dak Prescott, the Browns have the franchise tag to use to keep Mayfield in Cleveland for at least two extra years. Both sides, likely, don’t want to see that happen.
With less than a month before training camp starts, this is a good time to take a look back on six recent contract extensions and when those deals got done both relative to the quarterback’s years in the league as well as actual dates the deal was done. Can that information help set expectations for a Mayfield extension?