Baker Mayfield's Agent Is Confident A Contract Extension Will Happen This Summer

Baker Mayfield stated in a press conference earlier this month that he is in no rush to get his extension done. However, it sounds like Mayfield will get that big payday sooner rather than later.

Mayfield's agent, Jack Mills of Shark Sports Management, told WKNR's Tony Grossi that he does not think that he will wait for the market to develop.

"Something will be done this summer," Mills tells Grossi. "I think there's been enough contracts done for quarterbacks lately that give us a pretty good idea of what the market is. And, of course, we know that the (salary) cap isn't going up this year but it's
going up next year and next." Mills tells Grossi.

Setting the Market

Because Mayfield was in the same class as Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, it was expected that we would be in a standoff until one of those players resets the market.

However, with the latest contract extensions of Dak Prescott (four years, $160 million) and Patrick Mahomes (ten years, $450 million) Mayfield and his team are comfortable with the current quarterback market.

The Browns have Mayfield locked up for at least through 2022 when they picked up his fifth-year option ($18.86 million.) While Mayfield may not be in a rush to sign on long-term with the Browns, it seems like Mills and the Browns have been working hard at getting this deal done.

Why Extend Mayfield Now?

After turning 26 in April, Mayfield will be looking at a four-to-five year extension around the $35 million AAV range. This will ensure that Mayfield becomes rightfully paid, and the Browns get to keep the quarterback that led them to the playoffs for the first time since 2002, and their first playoff win since 1994 for the rest of his prime.

It is safe to say that Mayfield wants to be a Cleveland Brown and the Browns share a mutual interest, but it comes with a price. Even when this deal gets done, the Browns will have to keep the checkbook open as Denzel Ward, Nick Chubb, and Wyatt Teller will all be commanding big extensions very soon.

For now, the Browns need to be focused on finally locking up a franchise quarterback, and it seems like they are on the doorstep of just that. When the time comes to pay the rest of the core, we will deal with it then.