With the Cleveland Browns officially eliminated from playoff contention by AFC results on Sunday, the time has come to start looking ahead to the offseason. Two key pieces in the upcoming evaluation process for GM Andrew Berry are quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Jarvis Landry. Much of how he tries to set the team up to rebound from a disappointing 2021 season will revolve around the decisions made regarding these veterans and their contracts. 
According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns are unlikely to bring back Landry at his currently scheduled cap hit of $16.55MM. Between injuries and ongoing quarterback issues, the 30-year-old has only recorded 42 catches for 452 yards and one touchdown this year. Add that to the fact that the team would only incur a hit of $1.5MM in dead money if he were released, and it is easy to see why Cabot figures Cleveland is more likely to restructure his deal.
Cabot also adds, however, that the team may prefer to completely overhaul the top end of their receiving corps. Having already moved on from Odell Beckham Jr. midseason – a decision that seemed to sour Landry, his former LSU teammate and close friend – Berry may do the same with another expensive acquisition made prior to his arrival as GM.
As for Mayfield, a myriad of injuries are one of several reasons for the Browns’ underachieving this campaign. Cabot sees it as unlikely the Browns part ways with the former first-overall pick this spring, though. With a cap hit of $18.8MM in next year, Cleveland could use 2022 as the final “prove-it” season to decide whether or not Mayfield is worth committing to long-term. In an uncertain free agency, coupled with an underwhelming quarterback class upcoming in the draft, Cabot suspects more attention will be placed on filling roster holes elsewhere and counting on improved health along the offensive line.
The Browns play the Steelers on Monday night, and will finish the season against the AFC North champion Bengals in Week 18.
Close friend, wink wink.
What are you implying?
I see them drafting a QB in the first round this yr hopefully they bring that player along slowly instead of drafting a player who already has a big head like Baker and Johnny football had
I’m not a Browns Fan at all. So this is an outsiders pov. They have to be slow in the head to draft another Qb.
I also doubt the Browns draft a new QB. I feel like you might as well give Baker one last shot on the tail end of his rookie contract and address any remaining weaknesses (wideout, linebacker, etc.) to truly determine if Baker is incapable of succeeding.
The draft class does not look particularly promising, so they would likely be reaching for a signal caller anyway. They could always bring in a veteran to provide competition, such as Bridgewater or Minshew, but I doubt they look toward the draft.
Just a Steelers fan’s perspective
What I was saying they draft a QB to sit behind Baker so if they decide not to resign him after next season their not just throwing a rookie QB out there
That could happen, but I feel it would make more sense to use their draft capital to improve the surrounding positions instead of reaching for a QB
If they don’t want to throw a rookie into the fire in 2023, they should sign a veteran stopgap (Tyrod, Teddy, etc) to ease the transition
0% chance they draft a 1st round QB in 2022.
Drafting a QB would probably be the dumbest possible move for them to make. Drafting pretty much any other position, possibly including punter or kicker, would be a better idea.
Baker is hurt more than we’d like to admit. Should’ve had Keenum start until Baker was healthy. Now the Browns feel obligated to spend another year with Baker to see what he can do. Ugh.
I think the problem is that Baker needs surgery. I don’t think resting him would have fixed the problem. Though this is just based on stuff I’ve read.
Agreed with both, but Mayfield should not have been starting no matter the decision. Maybe Mayfield is the answer, maybe he’s not, but he will be better next year after getting worked on.
Trade Baker to Atlanta for Matt Ryan
Why? Hasn’t Matt suffered enough in Atlanta?
I think I read that Ryan has the biggest cap hit in all of football. had they done that a couple years ago, they couldve managed it. but they have to start paying all those first rounders they’ve had the last several years. I don’t see it happening.
Would make more sense to trade him to Carolina for Darnold. Both ideas are awful, but at least the money’s comparable.
J…what have you been smoking? Stick with Baker and give him some good receivers. You got decent TE’s, great running backs and a great O line.
Lol, I want this as a falcons fan. I hate Matt Ryan. Let me buy low on Mayfield.
‘With a cap hit of $18.8MM in next year, Cleveland could use 2022 as the final “prove-it” season to decide whether or not Mayfield is worth committing to long-term.’
I’m just a fan of the game, but even I have seen enough to know 1 more year a ‘prove it deal’ is silly. Lame duck QB is never a good direction walking into a new season. As usual, the Browns drafted poorly. But being the Browns, they don’t want to accept that fact.
There’s little downside to going with the “prove it” scenario. Mayfield actually has a better career passer rating than Tannehill had when Miami made the mistake of giving up on him.
Not a Browns fan but I’ve seen all their games this season (best friend is a die hard Browns fan so I have a rooting interest) and I can’t honestly understand why everyone blames Baker. Is he a top QB? No, and I get that’s a disappointment to many considering where he was drafted but he’s id somewhere around the top half of the league which is better than the Browns have had since they came back into existence. If I was ownership I’d go to Baker and say “you don’t want us to pay you based on this year, get healthy and go earn your paper next season” he seems like the type to be motivated by this. The guy I think deserves the blame this year is Stefanski, he went all Matt Nagy this year where he believed the hype after winning coach of the year. He got it in his head he’s a genius and started doing incredibly boneheaded stuff, like you have a clearly injured QB and you’re running the ball with ease against the Packers but Stefanski decided Baker has to try and outduel Rodgers. Between Stefanski and terrible field goal kicking that’s the reason they missed the playoffs more than anything else.
So well said.
Mayfield isn’t a great QB, but he’s not a bad one either. He’s been out there gutting it out and playing hurt, which hasn’t produced the greatest year. There’s quite a few teams that would likely would love to have him. He was probably over-drafted, but that’s a sunk cost now.
He’s not going to N.O., but I would be curious what a coach like Payton could do with him.
Baker isnt injured it is his head. One good season at OU and he thought he was Payton Manning. However Manning was humble. He made himself better. Baker lays the blame game. They will never win with him and will drag down the rest of the club by hanging onto him.
Baker isn’t injured? Seems the doctors disagreed with you there.
Yeah, non injured people always get surgery for the fun of it