Browns: Team is willing to pay Baker Mayfield, just not $40 million

The Browns want to pay Baker Mayfield, just not $40 million a year.

I don’t think paying a quarterback $40 million per year is a smart investment. While their execution is critical, they’re only capable if the talent around them is. We have proof of this, look at Kansas City. The Chiefs had had to cut and re-structure their roster a lot after Patrick Mahomes got his massive deal. The offensive line isn’t better, the receiving corps isn’t better, and their best receivers, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce are starting to decline some. So I’ll never be in the “give a quarterback $40 million dollars” camp. Ever. With anyone. So I’m dang sure not in that camp for Baker Mayfield.

That doesn’t mean that Mayfield doesn’t deserve to get paid, nor does it mean that the Browns should replace him. I think $25 million is fair compensation for what he can do. He needs a strong line and a solid crop of running backs, so you can’t just throw $43 million at him without it coming from somewhere else. That’s how you kill teams.

Now, some will argue that Mayfield may not deserve even $25 million considering his play this year; which all things totaled, I think he’s done fairly well in. If you’ve never suffered a dislocated shoulder, you really can’t grasp how painful it is to just do anything. Now you factor in the dislocation caused a tear that will require surgery, and to see how well he played in spite of that pain is really impressive.

He should’ve been sat the minute it happened so it didn’t get worse, but still, impressive.

The Browns seem to agree. They want to pay him because of his play. Just not $40 million.

The Browns are willing to give Baker Mayfield a nice payday.

The Browns, according to Dan Graziano (via Browns Wire) are willing to bring back Mayfield for “the right price” and Graziano claims that a figure around $30 million is what they’re willing to shell out. That’s good compensation. If Mayfield thinks he’s worth more, then likely a fifth season won’t change the Browns’ mindset and the team will likely head to a breakup with Mayfield.

Here’s the thing about football breakups, they suck for everyone. When a player gets overpaid, it often causes the lot around him to decrease in talent. Guys get replaced for bargain prices. The whole thing falls apart. But at least he got paid! Then again, if you let the player go, sure the talent remains the same around the new quarterback but this was a system that worked best for that one player who is now playing elsewhere.

Breakups suck for everyone.

So taking the money and running isn’t a guarantee Mayfield will play better elsewhere, and overpaying him isn’t a sign the Browns are going to be staying the course. Mayfield’s only making $8 million this year, that $32+ million is going to come from somewhere. Maybe Wyatt Teller and Jack Conklin? Denzel Ward’s deal is about out, the Browns would probably have to pass up on a new deal for him. You better believe that Odell Beckham and Kareem Hunt are gone, and Jarvis Landry will likely have to restructure his deal.

It’s madness.

The best thing for everyone is to admit, out loud, that quarterbacks are vastly overpaid to a team-damaging degree, and convince Mayfield that taking $30 million a year isn’t just good for the team, but good for himself. Where else is Mayfield going to go with a team that will give him anywhere close to what the Browns want to give him?

Don’t repeat the failures of Indians/Guardians legend Kenny Lofton. In the 2002 offseason, the Tribe offered him a deal that they felt was fair and Lofton left thinking he could make more elsewhere. He couldn’t. Lofton ended up signing for $1 million in Chicago. A far cry from what Cleveland offered.

That could be Mayfield, going the way of other past sports stars who thought they could “get more”. $8 million is life-changing money for 99% of this country. $30 million? He could retire after one season and never be hurt for money again.

Greed is the root of all evil and is the first sign that your team is doomed. Mayfield should take what’s offered and end this conversation.