Cleveland Browns: Which players are in a contract year?

Tyrod Taylor, QB

The final player we examine who can be looking for a new deal in 2019 is none other than their current starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Acquired this offseason from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a third-round pick, Taylor is a proven commodity at the position and is arguably the best option Cleveland has had since returning to the NFL in 1999.

Even so, the plan isn’t for him to stick around. That’s nothing to do with his skill as Taylor is fresh off one of his best performances to date. Taylor ended the Bills long playoff drought by leading them to a 9-win season.

He finished the year with 2,799 yards passing in 14 starts. Taylor was highly efficient with a 14-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The dual-threat player added 427 yards on the ground and four touchdowns.

While all that can help the Browns improve, he’s a placeholder currently as Cleveland spent the No. 1 overall pick on Baker Mayfield out of Oklahoma. What happens with Taylor moving forward is tied directly to the former Sooner.

Cleveland hopes for Mayfield to be ready to take the reins in 2019, but it’s yet to be seen if he can handle the job. While I personally believe that will be a non-issue, a poor performance out of Mayfield could change that.

Should that happen and Taylor end the new longest playoff drought, he could very well convince the Browns to give him one more season.

Next: Are Browns "politically correct” in naming Taylor the starter

Most likely he’s one and done though with Cleveland, but thankfully that one year should look much better under center than many of the recent ones have.