On Sunday, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield told reporters that he's not worried about his contract situation, and the $258 million extension Josh Allen recently signed with the Buffalo Bills is "good for the quarterback position overall."
Whether or not Mayfield expressed his true feelings on the matter remains up for debate. But CBS Sports HQ NFL analyst Bryant McFadden believes that the timing of Allen's new mammoth deal puts the Browns in a tricky position.
"Cleveland should've signed Baker Mayfield before Josh Allen signed his deal. The market is the market, but it depends on who you are as a player," McFadden told the Reiter Than You show on Monday. "If you had to compare quarterbacks or you had to pick a quarterback, I think we all would pick Josh Allen. So, if Josh Allen is making $43 million per year, Baker is trying to get the same or even better than what Allen is getting. But do you think Baker is a $43 million per year quarterback? No. That's going to be an issue.
"If you're Baker Mayfield, if you're part of his camp, play good football again. Your numbers might not be the same numbers Allen will provide because the offense is totally different -- they have a more balanced attack in Cleveland. But if you win ballgames, if you get into the playoffs, make another deep run, now you have leverage. But I don't know if the Browns will be willing to give Mayfield $43 million. I don't know if they'll be willing to give him $40 million..."
Mayfield, who's entering the fourth year of his rookie contract, became a hero for Cleveland last season. The former first overall pick threw for 3,563 yards with 26 touchdowns and a career-low eight interceptions in 16 games, and helped lead the Browns (11-5) to their first playoff appearance since 2002.
According to Spotrac, Mayfield's market value is currently listed at $141 million across four years. With this deal's average annual value (AAV) of $35.2 million, it'd make him the fifth-highest average paid player in the NFL. Allen's new AAV of $43 million is second to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' $45 million.
Cleveland will open the 2021 season in Kansas City against the Chiefs on Sept. 12. According to the William Hill Sportsbook, the Browns currently have the second-best odds (+145) to win the AFC North, and the fourth-best odds (+800) to win the conference.
The entire NFL conversation between McFadden and Reiter can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Reiter Than You show on Twitter @sportsreiter and @CBSSportsRadio, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.