In year 4, having no answer on Baker Mayfield says all you need to know

Baker Mayfield is well into his fourth season, and the fact that we are still questioning him tells us all we need to know

In life, the goal is to always want the best for those that you care about. Whether it be for a family member, a group or organization, or anything you truly care about, you always want the best for whatever it may be. As Cleveland Browns fans, we all want the best for the team and for the organization, so that they give us what we all want — a winning football team.

Since entering the league, quarterback Baker Mayfield has given the Browns and their fans more happiness than they have experienced in the past 20 years. Going to the playoffs and getting a postseason win in Pittsburgh is no doubt the highlight of the Mayfield era so far. That said, if the Browns want to reach their ultimate goal in winning a Super Bowl title, it doesn’t appear it can be with Mayfield at the quarterback position.

Winning games is great. Everyone loves winning. But, when you’re winning against poor quality teams and losing to high-quality opponents, beating the bad teams doesn’t seem all that impressive. News flash; it’s not, and you can’t go anywhere without beating good teams.

Going back to the opening statement; if you want what’s best for the Browns and in the long run, extending and paying Mayfield over $30 million annually will not get you there. Remember, you can love a quarterback’s toughness and determination all while agreeing he’s just not giving the football team enough. In Mayfield’s situation, that seems to be the case.

Here are stats that may make you re-think how capable Mayfield actually is as a franchise quarterback:

This season stats:

• 1-5 this season against teams currently with a winning record
• 23rd in yards this season
• Tied for 23rd in touchdown passes this season
• 25th in QBR this season

Career stats:

• 28-27 record
• 14-20 record when throwing 30+ pass attempts in a game

For Mayfield, it seems as if everything else around him has to be perfect for him to be great. Perfect example? Last weekend’s game against the Bengals. Another one? Making the Browns throw the ball. Teams are going to take away the run, and when they do, 14-20 isn’t going to cut it.

When’s the last time Mayfield led the Browns to a final drive or late comeback win when it mattered most? Why is it we can very rarely go into a shootout and win?

If Browns fans are content with being an average and sometimes above-average football team for the next 5-10 years, paying and extending Mayfield for $30 million-plus is a great idea. If the Browns want to get to and win a Super Bowl, I believe taking what the Rams did in upgrading what they thought was their franchise quarterback for someone even better and going all-in is what the Browns must do.

Again, I’m not sitting here and saying Mayfield is a bad quarterback. But, he’s definitely not what we hoped he was going to be, and the Browns window is now.

Finding a way to upgrade in whatever fashion it may take is in the best interest of the team.