CLEVELAND — Considering the uncertainty regarding Baker Mayfield's immediate future, many have begun to speculate about what the fourth-year quarterback's current shoulder injury might mean for his future contract extension.
But despite some suggestions that the Browns still succeeding without Mayfield in the lineup could hinder his value, the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft still appears to be a part of Cleveland's plans.
On Monday, ESPN's Dan Graziano published his weekly overreactions column, in which he judges some of the hot takes that have become prevalent across the NFL. And while one of the premises Graziano presented was that Mayfield won't receive a contract extension from the Browns, he ultimately deemed that to be an "overreaction" while sharing insight into the former Heisman Trophy winner's current contract situation.
"I still think -- actually, I know -- that the Browns would bring Mayfield back for the right price," Graziano wrote. "I don't think they want to pay him at Patrick Mahomes/Josh Allen levels, but they believe they can win with him and would pay him in the mid-to-high $30 millions per year to stick around."
As is the case in most contract negotiations, the dealings between Mayfield and the Browns will likely be a matter of dollars and sense. While there's little evidence to suggest that Mayfield deserves a deal similar to Mahomes (10 years, $450 million) or Allen (six years, $258 million), Cleveland also has plenty of incentive to do whatever it takes to sign its franchise quarterback to a long term deal.
Currently, Mayfield remains under contract with the Browns through the end of the 2022 season. On multiple occasions over the course of the past year, the 26-year-old signal-caller has downplayed the urgency of getting a new deal done.