CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Andrew Berry had plenty to say about Baker Mayfield Wednesday morning, just not about the quarterback’s contract option or a possible extension.
“I was warned that I may get this question today,” Berry joked.
The Browns can exercise the fifth year on Mayfield’s rookie contract in the spring and can offer the 2018 No. 1 overall pick an extension.
Picking the option up is likely a mere formality, the extension too.
“In terms of contracts, I don’t think that this is really the appropriate forum to really talk about those decisions,” Berry said. “I think that that’s something that’s a little more personal to me, the player and the agent.”
The Browns executive vice president of football operations and general manager echoed his comments from last Friday in praising Mayfield and what he accomplished in his third season, the first under head coach Kevin Stefanski.
“I think he did an excellent job this year, right?,” Berry said. “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 Kevin [Stefanski] and the offensive staff and really grew before our eyes on a week-to-week basis both on and off the field.
“We’re very, very pleased with him. Look, we wouldn’t be where we were at the end of the season without his performance. He had a really strong season.”
Mayfield has started 47 consecutive games, including the playoffs, and stabilized the position that had been the franchise’s Achilles heel and revolving door for nearly two decades.
Mayfield eliminated costly turnovers that plagued him in 2019 and threw a career-low eight interceptions along with 26 touchdowns, one off the 27 he threw as a rookie, in 2020.
Last July the Browns signed Myles Garrett, the club's 2017 No. 1 overall pick, to a five-year, $125 million extension.
What Mayfield's extension would look like remains to be seen.
“I am not going to go into the specifics,” Berry said. “We are really happy with Baker. We would not be where were without his performance this year. It was really the same trajectory with Myles. Obviously we did his deal in the summer, but it is not something that I really felt comfortable talking through really into the offseason. I just do not think it is the right forum. We are very pleased with Baker.”