5 Cleveland Browns whose stock is booming after running over Broncos in Week 7

4. Browns QB Case Keenum

Case Keenum wasn’t spectacular, but he played well enough. More importantly, he was the adult in the room when the Browns really needed stability at the quarterback position in light of Mayfield’s injury.

After watching the Browns first couple drives, it was evident how much of the Browns’ offensive success comes down to Kevin Stefanski’s scheme. There were times Keenum might as well have been Mayfield out there, running play action fakes, getting the ball out to his tight ends for chunk gains. Like Baker, even case had a hard time connecting with Odell Beckham.

Mayfield is the better player,  but the game left me thinking about a possible extension for Baker Mayfield and why the front office hasn’t made an offer. I think it’s probably because they’re open to an extension, but not at an average annual salary of $40 million per season.

Take the orange colored glasses off and really think about it. Would you pay Baker Josh Allen type money? I’m rooting for the Bake Show, but I don’t see it. I wish he’d take $20 million per season, but I doubt he will.

Back to Stefanski’s scheme: It’s all about running the ball. Now the question we haven’t had had answered in a year and a half. How do you comeback when you’re down. You just can’t play-action fake you’re way back when you’re down 17.

As for Keenum, this is why the Browns signed him. He can step in and win some games. He beat the Broncos and he’s got a shot to beat Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.