Browns: A quarterback controversy that we don’t hate
By John Suchan
![Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Case Keenum and Kyle Lauletta were on hand for OTA workouts on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 in Berea, Ohio. [Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal]Browns 610 11](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fdawgpounddaily-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F16231128-850x560-aefb9f76edabf7275c5778b180acb10cdd06ab76a3b584145af6605346b0e706.jpg "Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Case Keenum and Kyle Lauletta were on hand for OTA workouts on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 in Berea, Ohio. [Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal]Browns 610 11")
Browns backup QB battle: Money Talks
Keenum is due $7.1 million this year to be Mayfield’s backup. He has provided Mayfield with a wealth of football knowledge and experiences and that’s all a plus. But it is an expensive price for the Browns to pay.
Cleveland has several players they are considering signing to new extensions including Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward, and Wyatt Teller. The Browns did work out a new deal with their running back Nick Chubb that was considered to be team friendly and likely saved the team some money.
If Keenum were to stay in Cleveland he’d expect to make closer to $8 million next season.
On the other side of the spectrum, Lauletta is due $780,000 this season, a far cry from $7.1 million.
If the Browns front office is all about analytics, then the fact that there is a $6 million difference in salaries should raise some eyebrows. I understand that much of Keenum’s money is already guaranteed and that the Browns would take a loss in some financial ways if they were to release Keenum at this point.
However, they could work out a deal to possibly trade him to a team that might need a veteran presents on their quarterback roster and not take a loss on the financial side of things. There are teams out there like the Indianapolis Colts, who had their quarterback, in this case, Carson Wentz who has been sidelined due to an injury, that might be lured into some type of trade for Keenum.