I just don’t get the Baker Mayfield hate, I just don’t. Former NFL quarterback Phil Sims said in a radio interview this week he doesn’t understand how people love to hate Baker Mayfield. Hate Mayfield, look for reasons he is a terrible quarterback and then justify your argument. Is he perfect? No. Did he make mistakes? Yes. Did his injuries attribute to his play physically and mentally? Yes. Did the play calling add to his poor play down the stretch? Yes. Did all the drama in the locker room help? No. I recall a healthy Baker Mayfield as a rookie breaking Payton Manning’s rookie touchdown record, later to be broken by everyone’s flavor of the month Justin Herbert. Then, a healthy Mayfield leading the Browns to the playoffs last year. So now the haters and the Cleveland media are clutching their pearls about what the Browns are going to do about the quarterback situation.
First, they complained about the announcement to skip the last game to schedule surgery for his shoulder. Then they complained about not having the surgery in Cleveland. Now they’re dissecting his post-surgery Instagram video like it’s a hostage video. I think if you play it slow, he’s blinking trade me in morse code. The local Cleveland media are now breaking down every sentence word for word looking for meaning and inflection to confirm their wish that Mayfield doesn’t want to be in Cleveland anymore. People have lost their minds. The Baker haters also said none of his teammates wished him well on social media. As Rashard Higgins said on twitter, he texted Mayfield and not everything has to go on social media.
The Browns front office has a plan for the off-season. They’ve had this plan for months. GM Andrew Berry is not a spur of the moment GM. The Browns aren’t in a desperate need for a quarterback. The most logical thing to do is for Mayfield to be the starter in 2022. I know that he’s on the last year of his contract, but so is Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson. Raven’s fans don’t have their panties in a wad over it. The only difference between the two is Jackson won an MVP award. They both have one playoff win and both of their injuries derailed their team’s season. I recall a news report the week after last year’s Super Bowl the Ravens were going to sign Jackson to an extension. Then nothing, nothing, not a peep. That’s a more concerning situation than the Browns.
My concerns for the 2022 Browns are the depth at wide receiver, depth at interior defensive line, extending CB Denzel Ward, finding a kicker, resigning DE Jadeveon Clowney and S M.J. Stewart. Those are my priorities. With 2021 rollover, the Browns currently have about $28 million in cap space. Certain moves would create more space. As of now the Browns have eight draft picks with wide receiver again being a deep position for the draft. In 2020 the Browns needed a left tackle, and they drafted a left tackle in the first round. In 2021 the Browns needed a cornerback, and they drafted a cornerback in the first round. In 2022 the Browns need a wide receiver, and they will draft a wide receiver in the first round.
If you’re on the fence about QB Baker Mayfield, trust the Browns front office and Andrew Berry to do the best for the Browns. Like I said earlier, they have plan and they’ve had the plan for months. Stop being amateur physiologists looking for any clue to prove you’re right. I don’t care if I’m right or wrong, I just want the Browns to win. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.