Following the senior performance from Baker Mayfield for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2017, he was made the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Cleveland Browns organization went through a multitude of quarterbacks. It has been well documented about the quarterback failures, and we have seen the memes. Given they decided to utilize their top overall pick in 2018 spoke to how highly they thought of Mayfield, coming off a Heisman Trophy-winning season.
In 2017 he threw for 4,627 yards with 43 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Mayfield led the Sooners to their second College Football Playoff appearance in three seasons. Then it was time to move on to the NFL as the franchise quarterback of the Browns.
After being selected first in the draft Mayfield signed a four-year contract as it what every drafted player receives with the rookie wage scale. The key difference is that first-round picks have a fifth-year option that can be picked up by the team. Prior to the start of their fourth-year, the team has to make a decision. Mayfield is heading into year No. 4 in 2021.
During the end of the season wrap up call with Browns’ general manager Andrew Berry, the topic of Mayfield’s option came up in discussion. He gave no clear indication about which way they would be leaning. No surprise there since these conversations need to be held behind closed doors.
“I don’t think that this is really the appropriate forum to really talk about those decisions,” Berry said during a Zoom call wrapping up the Browns’ season, which ended Sunday with a 22-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round. ”That’s something that’s a little more personal to me, the player and the agent.”
“What I can tell you is really I’d echo the comments I had last week with Baker. He did an excellent job this year, right? He led us to the first playoff appearance in eons. He got 12 wins, played winning football all year, developed a really strong relationship with (coach) Kevin (Stefanski) and the offensive staff and really grew before our eyes on a week-to-week basis both on and off the field.”
In his third year, under first-year head coach Stefanksi, Mayfield’s play was elevated. The Browns would make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The team also won double-digit games for the third time since 1994 and first since 2007. Mayfield along with a new staff was a huge part.
As for the play of Baker Mayfield himself, he didn’t set career numbers in yards or touchdowns, but he did limit his interceptions. He threw a combined 35 interceptions in his first two season and just eight last season. Not to mention along with the first playoff win since 1994, Mayfield led them to 12 wins. He led them to a combined 12 wins in his first two season.
Seems like a no-brainer decision that the Browns need to either pick up that option or sign him to a long-term deal given their success in 2020.