Report: Cleveland Browns to ‘explore all options’ at quarterback

The Cleveland Browns have publicly backed Baker Mayfield as their starting quarterback but Mary Kay Cabot says they will still explore all options

When the season ended and the questions came in, the Cleveland Browns said all the right things. They publicly supported quarterback Baker Mayfield and said their main focus was on him getting healthy.

Mayfield did, after all, suffer a partially torn shoulder labrum while also developing a knee and foot problem in 2021. While the injuries contributed to his struggles during the season, the question remains as to whether or not the front office really does believe in him.

Only time will tell but Mary Kay Cabot recently reported that Cleveland will “explore all options” as Mayfield enters his fifth season in the NFL.

"“With Mayfield heading into his fifth-year option year at $18.86 million, the Browns will explore all available veteran and rookie quarterbacks, and this will come as no surprise to Mayfield and his camp. That’s why it’s good he’s off of social media right now, because plenty of rumors will fly once the QB dominoes begin to fall.”"

From there, Cabot lists a few names Cleveland should make a run at including Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Kirk Cousins. Of those names, Cousins makes the most logical sense considering he has a relationship with head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Will the Cleveland Browns actually move on from Baker Mayfield?

It’s important to point out that Mary Kay isn’t saying the front office will do everything they can to replace Mayfield. She’s also not saying they will go hard after any of these players. What she is saying, is that general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski will be doing their jobs — which includes leaving no stone unturned as they aim to make the most competitive roster they can.

Should they decide a player they consider an upgrade is an option, the question then becomes whether or not they pull the trigger. One reason not to is that we have all seen Mayfield get it done before.

His play in 2020 was good enough to consider giving him an extension. The problem is, he now has put together two good seasons (2018 and 2020) and two rough ones (2019 and 2021). Throw in the fact that he was inherited by this regime, and not drafted by them, and there’s a real chance they could look to move on if the right opportunity presented itself.

But what about the public support?

Yes, in public the coach and GM are saying Mayfield is our guy and we believe in him — which is exactly what they should say. Think about it, what happens if they say “no, we have seen enough and want to move on.”

Sure, that’s great if you have a Plan B, but right now, there isn’t one. They’re not starting Case Keenum, they don’t know if a rookie they like will be there at 13 — heck they may not even like this class enough to use that pick on a quarterback. They also don’t know which signal-callers will be available in free agency.

So that means they are protecting themselves by backing their guy. But if they have a chance to make someone else they believe makes them better “their guy,” there’s no way they don’t consider making the move.