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Baker Mayfield's 2021 season didn't exactly go as planned. Expectations were high for the Cleveland Browns after getting their first playoff win in nearly 30 years a season ago, but Mayfield and company woefully disappointed, finishing 8-9 and missing the postseason altogether.
As the unofficial offseason begins with the start of the NFL combine on Tuesday, though, Mayfield received a strong vote of confidence from Browns general manager Andrew Berry ahead of the 2022 campaign.
Andrew Berry said nothing has changed with his expectation that Baker Mayfield will be back as the Browns starter in ‘22.
Said the thought there will be a lot of vet QB movement is usually “just speculation.” Said Jed Wills is the Browns LT and won’t be moved.
— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) March 1, 2022
The No. 1 pick of the 2018 draft lived up to that billing a year ago, leading the upstart Browns to the playoffs after passing for 3,563 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Cleveland entered 2021 with dreams of Super Bowl contention, in no small part due to the impressive fight it put up on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
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Instead of cementing themselves as a perennial AFC power, though, the Browns took a step back last season, with Mayfield's struggles crystallizing the need for team-wide improvement going forward. He threw for 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2021, good for a QBR of 35.1—by far the lowest number of his career and the 27th-ranked mark in the league.
With Cleveland still committed to Mayfield under center, expect the team to focus on improving at wide receiver, edge rusher and in the secondary via the draft and free agency over the offseason.
