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Browns: 3 players with the most to prove pre-training camp

By Chad Porto

Sep 17, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Austin Hooper (81) misses a catch during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Austin Hooper (81) misses a catch during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – JANUARY 03: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns passes during the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Steelers 24-22. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JANUARY 03: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns passes during the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Steelers 24-22. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield had a great 2020. He had a great 2018. He had a disappointing but better-than-most-Browns-quarterbacks-over-the-last-20-years season in 2019. He’s got two more years with the Browns before he has to get a new deal. The Browns would like to get him a new deal before the end of this year, so that way they don’t have to worry about the future of the position and can continue to build around him.

The problem isn’t if Mayfield is a good quarterback, he is. The problem comes from what he’ll want in a new deal, what he’s actually worth compared to said new deal, and what the team is willing to pay him. Mayfield, despite some detractors, had a top 10 season in 2020. He’ll need another top-10 season to even warrant a contract extension in the $20 million range. If he wins a Super Bowl in year four, he can probably name his own price.

That’s what he has to prove. Not if he’s good, we know he’s good, but what will be his price? If he goes out and had another 2019 season, will he even get a contract offer? Who knows. If he goes out and tops his 2018 and 2020 seasons? Are we looking at $25 million a year? $30 million a year? He has to show his worth with consistency, points, and wins.

If he can do that, he’ll get his massive new deal.

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