Browns: 3 things the raised salary cap in 2022 allows Cleveland to do

Secure their corp players

The Browns are also not in a position anymore to worry about if they can afford guys like Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Denzel Ward, Wyatt Teller, and others. It’s now solely up to those players to prove they’re worth the money. The money’s there, no one has to get cut or traded to accommodate them any longer (though we know someone will). So it’s entirely up to those guys and others to prove their consistent, healthy and irreplaceable.

For Mayfield and Chubb, it seems like a done deal. Mayfield has had two great years and one subpar one. We know what Mayfield can be. if he’s never better than he was in 2020 then the Browns will have a Top 10 quarterback who can win the team games and help move the chains. Chubb will likely get one massive contract from the Browns that stretch his remaining prime years as a runner, but it’ll be up to him to decide if what the Browns offer him is fair. It seems unlikely he gets money like Christian McCaffrey did, but he’ll get close. Will that be good enough for Chubb?

As for Teller and Ward, it’s about consistency. Can they remain healthy and consistent in their play? Something neither man has proven and will have to show in 2021 in order to warrant that second contract.