Cleveland, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – No matter how many times or how many ways Baker Mayfield is asked about his contract situation, the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback remains consistent in his response.
Following Josh Allen’s six-year, $258 million contract extension with the Buffalo Bills on Friday, attention has shifted to Mayfield and the Browns.
“I’m not doing the negotiations, so quite frankly, I don’t give a damn,” Mayfield said Sunday afternoon following the team’s practice at FirstEnergy Stadium. “I’m worried about winning Week 1 and going onto Week 2 and focusing on that week one week at a time. That’s my mindset, so no matter how many times I get asked this question throughout the year, it’s going to be the same answer, because that’s just the truth.”
Allen’s deal included $150 million in guaranteed money, and the $43 million per-season average ranks second behind Patrick Mahomes, who will average $45 million over 10 years with the Chiefs.
“I’m very happy for Josh,” Mayfield said. “I think Josh is a great guy. Going through that [draft] process with him, I’m very happy for him. He’s in a tradition-rich town like Buffalo, they’re lucky to have a quarterback like him that cares about it, lives that same mindset that they do up in Buffalo.”
Allen was selected seventh overall out of the University of Wyoming in the 2018 NFL Draft. Mayfield was the first overall pick of that draft class, but Allen has reached the playoffs twice, the conference championship once and finished second in MVP voting for Buffalo.
Mayfield helped the Browns end the league’s longest playoff drought in 2020 and led them to their best finish in 26 years.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who won NFL MVP honors in 2019 and was picked 32nd by the Ravens in 2018, is also eligible for an extension this offseason.
With new media money about to pour in, the job of quarterback is going to pay very well, as in north of $40 million for the league’s top quarterbacks.
Browns executive vice president of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry said earlier in camp he has no “dogmatic” approach to extensions. The team just signed running back Nick Chubb to a three-year, $36.6 million extension, and is in talks with 2018 No. 4 overall pick Denzel Ward for an extension.
“I’m worried about winning. I think the rest will take care of itself,” Mayfield said. “It’s good for the quarterback position overall. I’d be lying if we said otherwise, but I’m worried about winning right now. I don’t know the timeline on it. We haven’t talked about it, because I’m worried about winning this season.”
***Photo: Matt Starkey - Cleveland Browns
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