There is a lot riding on Baker Mayfield’s 2021 season.
Not only do the Cleveland Browns have Super Bowl expectations, but the 2018 No. 1 overall pick could be in for a big payday with a contract extension.
While Mayfield has said he is not worried about a contract, the fact is his play this season could go a long way in determining how the Browns decide to approach his contract situation.
Mayfield is the first reliable Browns quarterback in, well, a really long time which could set up some intriguing negotiations.
Former Cleveland Brown and two-time All-Pro RB/WR Eric Metcalf believes the team could go down the same route the Dallas Cowboys did with Dak Prescott.
“I don’t know. In my mind…I would say franchise [tag],” he told Zach Brook of “The Upon Further Review” podcast. “Just like the Cowboys did with Dak. Dak had been to the Pro Bowl and all that before, and they still franchised him. … I think there’s a situation where they could franchise [Mayfield] and still build around him.
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“This team, on paper, is loaded. So, trying to keep people together and trying to get to a Super Bowl is the hard part. So, we need to tackle that first and then we can worry about what we do with him. It’s a situation where we have 125 million QBs … maybe one or two more… and everybody expects so much of him. But it doesn’t have to be Baker. This team is loaded. We can let it play out and see what happens.”
Through four games this season, Mayfield is off to a decent start. He has the Browns at 3-1 while throwing for 935 yards and two touchdowns to two interceptions.
Not great numbers, but not bad either.
But Metcalf (whose full interview can be heard here) believes the Browns are so balanced, particularly with the two-headed monster of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, that the Browns do not necessarily have to rely on Mayfield – yet.
“I think as long as Stefanski plays the offense and keeps him in a situation where he doesn’t have to go out there and win every game, I think he’ll be great,” Metcalf said. “We have playmakers all around him, a line that’s great, running backs. If we can stay in what we do, and not ask him too much, I think he’ll be fine.
“Obviously, it’s the NFL. There’s games he is going to have to win it throwing the ball …I don’t think we have the type of team that would have to throw 40 times to win the game. I think if we throw 25 times a game we should be fine.”
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