Surprise not surprise, the Browns had arguably their best game of the season just days after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. Holding the Bengals to a season-low 16 points, the Browns looked dominant. Their defense forced three turnovers, made Joe Burrow look average at best, and overall, made the entire team look foolish. The Browns offense only ran 46 plays to the Bengals 70, but it didn’t matter. After the second quarter, the game was essentially over.
Baker Mayfield’s numbers weren’t stellar, but he made timely throws and never put the offense in harm’s way. Something that he’s struggled to do with Odell on the field. Last season, once Odell was out of the lineup, the Browns took off. Baker Mayfield was graded as a top-five quarterback by Pro Football Focus, and the offense was clicking on all cylinders. Now sitting at 5-4 with their defense starting to take shape, Cleveland has a chance to do it again.
Maybe Mayfield played this week feeling like he had something to prove. Or maybe the return of Nick Chubb reinvigorated the offense against a division rival. No matter how you choose to look at it, one thing has remained consistent. When Odell isn’t on the field, Baker Mayfield plays better football.
Baker Mayfield has 4 games since the start of 2020 with 4+ big-time throws & 1 or 0 turnover-worthy plays.
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) November 8, 2021
The fourth was yesterday.
All of them came with OBJ out of the lineup.
Given the pre-season hype around the Browns, they’ll need this version of Mayfield to show up every single week.
The Ball’s in Bakers Court
Heading into the season, the Browns were among the betting favorites in the AFC to make the Superbowl. Widely considered the best roster in the NFL, there’s wasn’t a single noticeable hole at any position. Unfortunately, through eight games, the Browns were 4-4, injured at key positions, and looked like the biggest disappointment of the year. Some pointed the finger at Mayfield’s injured left shoulder, his individual ability or lack-there-of, or Odell Beckham Jr. But now, with Odell no longer with the organization, Mayfield will be in the center of the media’s crosshairs should the Browns flail.
Armed with a top-five offensive line and arguably, the best running game in the league, there’s no reason the Browns shouldn’t finish with double-digit wins. Given the looming Baker Mayfield contract that he may or may not receive, he must produce for Cleveland. In eight games, Mayfield has thrown for 1,917 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions. He’s completing a career-high 67% of his passes, but averaging a touchdown a game with the weapons the Browns possess is quite frankly pathetic. His fifth-year option was already picked up, so Baker knows he’ll be on the roster heading into the 2022 season.
Based on how Baker Mayfield has played this season, the Browns would be smart to wait on extending him. Granted, if Mayfield’s play ticks up back to an elite level, as history has shown, the Browns will have to pay him top-flight money. It wouldn’t be great for their salary cap, but with the lengthy history of failed Browns quarterbacks, I’m not sure they could allow a pricetag to stand in the way of getting a contact done. In the end, Mayfield’s future is solely in his hands.
Baker Mayfield: Highest-graded QB in Week 9 ? pic.twitter.com/vNqyFANS6e
— PFF (@PFF) November 8, 2021
If he plays well, he’ll get whatever extension he wants. However, if Mayfield fails to reach the playoffs, his chances of remaining a Brown is between slim and none. After all, this Browns regime didn’t draft him.
