GM: Browns 'fully expect' Baker Mayfield to be starting QB in 2022

It seems everyone directly involved with the situation wants the public to understand there's no quarterback controversy within the Cleveland Browns early into the offseason.

Signal-caller Baker Mayfield took to Twitter last week to deny he could request a trade because of supposed unhappiness over his relationship with head coach and offensive play-caller Kevin Stefanski. Stefanski has since said he and his quarterback are "good," and he "fully expects" Mayfield to bounce back in 2022 following an injury-filled and lackluster season. 

General manager Andrew Berry spoke with media members Tuesday and echoed that the Browns "fully expect" Mayfield to "bounce back" and be atop the depth chart at the sport's most important position from the start of summer through at least Week 18. 

"It's easy to forget at this point of the year what we've seen with Baker over the past several years," Berry explained, according to Jake Trotter of ESPN. "We've been with Baker for a long period — we know his work ethic, we know his drive, we've seen him [be] a talented passer in this league, and we're looking forward to him getting healthy and continue to make improvements."

Mayfield dealt with a serious injury to his non-throwing shoulder that he first hurt in Week 2 on Sept. 19 and ended the 2021 campaign 27th among eligible quarterbacks with an 83.1 passer rating and a 35.3 total QBR. The No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft is set to undergo surgery Jan. 19 to repair his reported torn labrum and fractured bone at the top of the humerus. 

"I don’t have any concerns in terms of relationship or anything along those lines," Berry added about the partnership between Mayfield and Stefanski moving forward, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "I think it’s pretty natural to have discussions around scheme as you get into the offseason. Those discussions have happened and will continue to happen."

As things stand today, Mayfield will open the new NFL year in March on the fifth-year option attached to his rookie contract that's worth $18.858 million.