3 players the Cleveland Browns must be cautious re-signing right now

Baker Mayfield – Quarterback

Let’s get this out of the way quickly, this doesn’t mean the Browns should not re-sign Baker Mayfield, but it does mean Berry should see how year three pans out before a big commitment. As a rookie, Mayfield looked like the slam dunk franchise quarterback, but under the poor leadership of Freddie Kitchens last season, there was a major regression.

As a rookie, Mayfield went 6-7 as the starter and completed nearly 64 percent of his passes while adding 27 touchdowns to just 14 interceptions. More importantly, he was extremely efficient when the offense hit the red zone. In his second year with three additional starts, Mayfield went 6-10 and saw his completion percentage dip below 60. Not to mention he only threw 22 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. Far too many times the Browns would get inside the 20-yard line and stall.

When the Browns pulled off a trade for Odell Beckham before the 2019 season many expected them to be instant contenders. Truthfully, even Mayfield would admit he thought the glory would come without putting in the work.

Because of the regression last season, Berry should wait before giving Mayfield the keys to the franchise. However, look for this deal to get done next offseason after a massive 2020 season under first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski.

The wide zone play-action scheme will fit Mayfield perfectly and he has the tools to go with it. While Kitchens and Mayfield had success in 2018, it was quickly apparent the promotion to head coach was too much and he struggled to keep the offense in sync. With a rejuvenated Mayfield and an entire roster that was embarrassed by their 2019 outcome, look for the old Baker with a chip on his shoulder to come back.

Truthfully, waiting will likely cost the organization more money than signing Mayfield now. However, with the minor setback last season, it does feel necessary for him to prove he has what it takes.