Report: Browns plan to stick with QB Baker Mayfield for 2022 season

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield first injured his left non-throwing shoulder in the Week 2 victory over the Houston Texans on Sept. 19 and ultimately underwent offseason surgery on Jan. 19 to repair his torn labrum. The first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft largely underperformed after the initial setback, but both head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry offered Mayfield public votes of confidence last month. 

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports Mayfield is ahead of schedule in his rehab from surgery and also that the Browns still "plan" for Mayfield to be their QB1 for the 2022 season and for the 26-year-old to "receive more support in the way of an upgraded receiving corps and perhaps some tweaks to the scheme." 

Mayfield will be on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract worth $18.86 million when the new NFL year opens next month, and it's widely believed he will not be offered an extension this spring. He finished this past campaign with 3,010 passing yards, 17 touchdowns through the air, 13 interceptions, and a passer rating of 83.1. 

The Browns are routinely linked in trade rumors with veteran signal-callers such as Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings assuming they won't be able to land a top-tier talent such as Green Bay Packers starter Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks. Cabot notes "the Browns will explore all available veteran and rookie quarterbacks" ahead of this year's draft.