Off-season thoughts (Vol. VI) 

There seems to be some confusion as to who will control the offensive huddle for the Browns this coming season.

Baker Mayfield, who struggled mightily through most of the 2021 season before packing it in with one game remaining, is the obvious choice, right? After all, he is the incumbent. His general manager sort of sees it that way.

"We fully expect Baker to be our starter and bounce back,"Andrew Berry said a couple of months ago in his season wrap-up  session with the media. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the four-year veteran quarterback. 

If I'm Mayfield, I'm feeling much more confident if Berry had said something like this: "With all due respect, I'm surprised you're asking such a question. Of course, Baker is our starting quarterback. Why would you think otherwise?"

He did not remove all doubt. He left at least a sliver of the door open to the possibility, albeit slim at this point, of the situation changing. It's safe, though, to assume Case Keenum will not be back for year three as the backup.

Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski had numerous opportunities to use Keenum with the injury-riddled Mayfield playing well under 100% most of the season. With two exceptions, he remained tethered to the bench when he was clearly the healthier quarterback.

By picking up Mayfield's fifth-year option without the opportunity of extending it sent a clear message to the quarterback and his representatives. "We'll pay you the (roughly) $18 million this year, but you'll have to show us a lot more if you want the big contract."

Sure sounds like a prove-it contract, which would be a slap in the face for a player who at one time was the face of the franchise.

Berry has options and it's possible the situation changes by the time training camp rolls around this summer. With the likelihood of Keenum gone, Mayfield ostensibly might find himself competing for the starting job.

Numerous veteran quarterbacks with starting credentials will be available in the free-agent market or as trade bait. The latter group includes Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, Seattle's Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan of Atlanta, Carson Wentz of Indianapolis, Minnesota's Kirk Cousins and Derek Carr of Las Vegas.

Forget Rodgers and Wilson. They are not in the Browns' future. If they are moved, it most likely will be to a contending team like the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are seeking a veteran to replace the retired Ben Roethlisberger. Ryan, Cousins and Carr are possibilities at best.

Among the free-agent group are Teddy Bridgewater, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Mitch (Mitchell) Trubisky and Andy Dalton. Bridgewater is the only one of this collection capable of relegating Mayfield to the bench.

A third option would be the college draft, but I don't see Berry venturing in that direction until maybe the third day, if that, for a mediocre quarterback class. Too many other vital areas to take care of like wide receiver and defensive line.. 

The biggest upset overall is Mayfield fully recovers from the multitude of injuries that clearly hampered him last season and returns to the form that helped propel the Browns into the 2020 National Football League playoffs.