The Cleveland Browns are expected to retain quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2022, unnamed sources told the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
The duo’s report about Mayfield came out on Sunday morning.
“Plenty of scenarios have been rumored, including Mayfield wanting to move on and the Browns wanting to move on,” the report stated. “Barring a dramatic shift, it doesn’t appear either development is on the horizon.”
The #Browns are moving forward with Baker Mayfield as their starting QB, with the parties on the same page heading into the offseason, sources say.
From me and @TomPelissero: https://t.co/IAAgfpscTT
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 9, 2022
Mayfield, 26, will miss Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Case Keenum is expected to start in Mayfield’s place.
Later this month, Mayfield is due to undergo left shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Mayfield has played with the injury since Week 2 of the season, wearing a harness to prevent his shoulder from popping out of place.
The NFL Network’s report stated Mayfield and Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski met Friday as part of the team’s normal exit meetings.
The sources said Mayfield and Stefanski are on the same page.
Mayfield is due to make about $18.86 million in the 2022 season, which is the final year of his rookie contract.
Keenum, 33, is due to make $6.5 million in 2022, which is the final year of his deal with the Browns.
In December, Mayfield said in an NFL Network interview that there were “internal things” as issues he was dealing with — not just “outside noise” — while playing for the Browns in the 2021 season.
Mayfield missed three games in the 2021 season with his shoulder problems and other injuries.
In the 2021 season, Mayfield has completed 60.5% of his passes for 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
In the 2020 regular season, when the Browns had an 11-5 record and made the playoffs for the first time since the 2002 season, Mayfield completed 62.8% of his passes for 3,563, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
“While some communication issues lingered this season, and there was frustration with the on-field product, there is plenty of blame to go around,” the report states. “From game-plan issues to execution, it was all rocky. That’s what often happens when a team misses the playoffs.”
Last season, Mayfield also led the Browns to their first playoff victory since Jan. 1, 1995.
The Browns and Mayfield are working to continue working on their relationships, according to the report.
The report also outlined why trading Mayfield wouldn’t make sense for the Browns.
“How could the Browns know they would upgrade at QB, while simultaneously trying to deal a QB in the final year of his contract who is also undergoing shoulder surgery that requires a four-month recovery?” the report states. “And how could Mayfield request a trade and find a team better equipped to win (Cleveland just made the playoffs last year and returns its core for 2022 with a defense that came together down the stretch), while undergoing extensive rehab for his shoulder?”
Mayfield could play out the final year of his rookie deal before agreeing to a contract extension.
General manager Andrew Berry could also put the franchise tag on Mayfield for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Non-exclusive franchise tag values for quarterbacks were $25,104,000 in the 2021 season.
That figure is expected to increase to about $30 million by 2023, and even more by 2024.
NEXT: Braylon Edwards: Browns Need To Move On From Baker Mayfield
