Browns: 5 storylines to follow heading into training camp

The Browns are about to open up training camp.

The Browns are approaching the start of their 2021 training camp, where there are going to be numerous storylines playing out. Each player, each coach, has something going on with their career that makes for an interesting storyline whenever the preseason rolls around. The Browns are no different.

There are thousands of minor stories (and some major) that are going on at any given time. Will this be Mack Wilson’s last month as a Browns player? What rookies are going to break out and showcase their talents? Who’s ending up on the practice squad? There are too many questions to answer in one article. So we’re picking five.

We feel these are the biggest questions currently being asked heading into training camp. Not every question is going to be answered in training camp, some might not be answered until the end of the season but these are five to look out for.

Baker Mayfield’s contract – what is he worth?

We know Baker Mayfield is the future of the Cleveland Browns, but what exactly is he worth? Is he a $25 million a year guy? A $40 million a year guy? A $13 million a year guy? We don’t know, but his performance will give us a better look. The Browns need Mayfield to do several things to justify a high-price contract.

1. Improve his completion percentage – He’s not a bad passer, and he had a lot of exterior factors that often get thrown out when talking about his numbers. Three games were played in terrible weather and one where his four best receivers were out due to COVID all affected his numbers. No doubt. Yet, he’s now familiar with his system and needs to show more efficiency in those games.
2. Keep the turnovers down.
3. Be the reason the team has a chance to win. – The Browns might go 17-0 or 5-12, it’s impossible to say because we don’t know anything about the season, or which players get injured and how that’ll affect the team. If Mayfield plays well, regardless of the record, he’ll get a nice deal. After all, Mayfield doesn’t play defense so if the Browns lose every game 52-49 every week, that’s not on him. Yet, if the Browns go 11-6, and Mayfield has just 10 touchdowns to close out the year? Oh boy.

If he stumbles on just one of these, that may not be the end of Mayfield in Cleveland, but it’ll affect his contract. So, assuming Mayfield leaves training camp healthy, and then plays well the rest of the way, we’ll get a better idea of what he’s worth. While his training camp won’t affect how he’s perceived, the talks of his contract will be something everyone has an opinion about until Mayfield lets his play on the field resolve that debate.