In a year in which the quarterback carousel is spinning at a fast speed, the Cleveland Browns, who usually go through remote controls, have run out of batteries, they are glad they finally found one to hang on to.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry has expressed his belief that Baker Mayfield has proven he can take his game to the next level and stabilize a franchise with a constant turnover.
“I think the quarterback position is the most important position in professional sports,” Berry said Wednesday via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. ‘And until you have a level of winning level player, it’s really hard to win and make progress in the NFL, and often when the position is not productive or not solidified, it can feel a lot like being neutral. to work.
“This is something that is definitely not lost on us and certainly not lost on us as an organization.”
There have been some rough spots, especially in 2019, but the Browns believe they are getting their first playoff game in apparent centuries, that Mayfield is the long road.
In the fourth season, Mayfield and the Browns start at a crossroads for clubs. Many extend massive expansions, while others use the fifth-year option and then have the franchise label at their disposal. The Browns have until May 3 to exercise the fifth-year option, which is only guaranteed for injuries.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams have regretted the large money transactions they handed over to Carson Wentz and Jared Goff, respectively, which led to the biggest dead-money salary cap when both were traded this season.
Berry noted that he would not use the Wentz situation and the subsequent $ 33.8 million dead money to inform his decision on Mayfield.
“I do not know that anything that has happened to any of the other 31 teams has a big impact on the way we are going to address the quarterback situation here,” Berry said. For me, we will evaluate it. internally and make a decision that we think is best for our team and our organization. I think it might be a bit to say that this would be a warning or a blueprint for us. We will make the best decision for ourselves with the information we have. ‘
Although the Browns are giving Baker a massive new expansion, Berry expects the QB to make another leap in 2021.
“Like all of our players, we want to see him make progress and show growth in the second year in our offensive and defensive systems,” Berry said. ‘Baker is the first full-back in – you probably know the years more than I do – it led this team to the play-offs and a play-offs.
“He has endured tremendous adversity in his young career, just to be honest with the changes he has undergone with the coaching staff, front offices, offensive systems. He has risen above all. And I think we have all seen him grow from week to week to week last year and we expect him to continue the progress and have a fantastic 2021 season for us. ‘
As for Mayfield, he already has an interesting off-season: