Coming into the 2021 season, Baker Mayfield and the Browns were riding high as they were coming off a season where they qualified for the postseason, defeated the Steelers in a Wild Card game, and were ever so close to eliminating the Kansas City Chiefs.
Things never got that good in 2021 and now it has the current state communications between the Cleveland Browns and starting quarterback Baker Mayfield as to his future with the team nonexistent.
According to a report from Brad Stainbrook of 247 Sports and CBS Sports, the team and the QB have not communicated on his future plans for next season.
“#Browns and Baker Mayfield have not communicated on future plans for next season since the end of the season, per source,” Stainbrook wrote. “[Cleveland] GM Andrew Berry told reporters ‘we fully expect Baker to be our starter and bounce back’ at the end of the season.”
Not helping matters in 2021 was Mayfield dealing with injuries that clearly hampered him on the field, but he tried to fight through it. Mayfield underwent shoulder surgery in mid-January to fix his torn labrum.
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“This is not the end of my story,” Mayfield said following the completion of his surgery on January 19. “It’s just going to be one of those little things that I’ll look back and remember that’s one of those challenges and [adversities] that I’m going to try to take advantage of.”
Mayfield is expected to begin light throwing in April and should be able to participate in the Browns’ offseason program in a limited capacity. The QB is on the final year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to make approximately $18.8 million next season, per Spotrac.
Mayfield threw for 3,563 yards with 26 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in a healthier 2020 campaign, leading the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
Last season, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick is threw for 3,010 yards and 17 touchdowns – both career lows – and committed 13 interceptions for a Browns team that fell short of the playoffs and lofty preseason expectations.
