GM Andrew Berry says Browns fully expect Baker Mayfield to be their starting QB and bounce back in 2022

The message Browns General Manager Andrew Berry delivered Tuesday about Baker Mayfield was consistent — the franchise plans to give the quarterback a chance to redeem himself as its starter in 2022 despite him struggling mightily during an injury-plagued 2021 season.

Plans can change, but Berry could not have been more clear about his expectations for Mayfield next season.

"We fully expect Baker to be our starter and bounce back," Berry said via Zoom on the heels of the Browns wrapping up their disappointing season with a record of 8-9.

Mayfield suffered a completely torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder on Sept. 19 in Week 2 and played hurt for virtually the entire season. He sat out Sunday's 21-16 win over the AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals in Cleveland's season finale at FirstEnergy Stadium, and he's scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery on Jan. 19 in Los Angeles.

Why do the Browns believe Mayfield will rebound? Berry pointed to Mayfield's best production coming in the 2020 season under coach Kevin Stefanski, who was in his first year on the job. Mayfield got hot down the stretch, and the Browns went 12-6, including 1-1 in the playoffs, leading to Super Bowl hopes they fell way short of achieving in 2021.

"We've been with Baker for a long period of time at this point," Berry said. "We know his work ethic. We know his drive. We've seen him as a talented passer in this league, and we're looking forward to him getting healthy and continuing to make improvements. We expect him to bounce back next year."

Mayfield's rehabilitation from shoulder surgery is expected to take four to six months. Fox sideline reporter Lindsay Czarniak said during Sunday's telecast Mayfield told her he'll wear a sling for about six weeks after his surgery and hopes to be able to return to work by late April. Dr. Orr Limpisvasti provided second opinions on Mayfield's shoulder during the season and will perform the surgery, a person familiar with the plans confirmed.

"We're looking forward to Baker obviously getting healthy in the offseason and then putting good work into the spring with his coaches for having the type of season we know he can have moving forward,” Berry said.

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Berry's vote of confidence doesn't guarantee Mayfield will be the starter next season. The organization could still acquire an upgrade or competition this offseason at the sport's most important position, but sticking with Mayfield for another season appears to be the likeliest outcome. He is under contract through next season because, in April, Berry exercised the fifth-year option on Mayfield's rookie deal for $18.858 million guaranteed.

When Berry was asked whether it's his job to search the quarterback market for an upgrade, he said, "My job is to assemble the best team possible and make sure that we’re in the position to compete consistently for the division, to be in the playoffs and ultimately win a championship. That’s something that we’ll strive to do every year."

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The Browns were eliminated from playoff contention with two games remaining and finished third in the AFC North.

So do they at least feel the need to acquire another quarterback to push Mayfield?

"The way we go about adding competition or improving the talent base in the roster is largely, maybe not wholly, but largely independent of who's currently on the team," Berry said.

Asked whether the Browns would not be interested in pursuing other QB options with Mayfield on the roster, Berry said, "I know there's a ton of speculation out there. I'm not really going to get into that. I think I've been fairly straightforward here on this.”

Andrew Berry wouldn't label 2022 lame-duck season for Baker Mayfield

The Browns and Mayfield entered the 2021 season hoping to reach a contract extension, but everything went sideways and meaningful talks never materialized. Now there is obviously no expectation for Mayfield to receive an extension this offseason.

Since a collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFL Players Association instituted fifth-year options beginning with the 2011 draft class, no quarterback has played on the option and then received a contract extension during or after his fifth season.

The top two picks in the 2015 NFL Draft, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota each played on the option and were allowed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans to walk in free agency after their fifth seasons. Mariota was benched during his fifth season.

Despite the history, Berry said he wouldn't categorize 2022 as a lame-duck year for Mayfield, the No. 1 overall draft choice in 2018.

"The reality of it is any of us who work in the NFL, every year is a prove-it year," Berry said. "To the contract question in general, I think you guys probably know me well enough that I kind of march to the beat of my own drum in terms of whatever contract precedents are out there, so we'll deal with each situation on an individual basis.”

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Baker Mayfield's relationship with Browns coach Kevin Stefanski isn't worrying Andrew Berry

The relationship between Mayfield and Stefanski has been a hot topic lately because the quarterback publicly criticized the coach's play calling twice in the last month.

Mayfield, 26, had his season exit meeting with Stefanski this past Friday, and Stefanski said after Sunday's game Mayfield had left their gathering on a good note. Furthermore, a person familiar with the situation said Mayfield and Stefanski were on the same page during their discussion about moving ahead together and working out any issues that exist.

"I don't have any concerns in terms of relationship or anything along those lines," Berry said. "I think it's pretty natural to have discussions around scheme as you go into any offseason. Those discussions have happened and will continue to happen with the appropriate parties."

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Whether all of Mayfield's teammates still support him is a legitimate question, but Berry vouched for his leadership qualities.

“He's team-oriented. He's a competitor. He's super tough," Berry said. "He truly wants what's best for the team and really to take the steps that he needs to improve to become the quarterback that we know that he can become. Guys who are self-motivated, they're team-oriented and they're tough. You certainly like that profile across any position.”

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Berry did not deviate from the company line about the decision to start Mayfield for the vast majority of the season despite his injuries. Berry said the franchise feels good about the information it had and how it reacted.

"Medically cleared, the player feels good and can perform everything that's asked of him and required of him in practice," Berry said. "Baker was our starting quarterback. He was going to play if he was ready to go. I don't think it's any more complicated than that.”

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Mayfield finished the season 253-of-418 passing (60.5%) for 3,010 yards and 17 touchdowns with 13 interceptions for a rating of 83.1 in 14 games, going 6-8 as a starter. His completion percentage and rating ranked 27th among 32 qualifying QBs. He rushed 37 times for 134 yards (3.6 average) and a touchdown. He took 43 sacks.

The fully torn labrum and fraying in Mayfield's left shoulder were not his only medical issues. He also suffered a fractured humerus bone in the same shoulder on Oct. 17 in Week 6 and lower-body injuries (left heel, right knee contusion and groin) later in the season.

Yet the Browns rested Mayfield for just one game because of the shoulder, and backup quarterback Case Keenum helped them win their Dec. 21 meeting with the Denver Broncos on "Thursday Night Football." Keenum also prevailed in the finale against backup Bengals defenders, so he finished 2-0 as a starter. Mayfield and Keenum sat out a 16-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 20 due to COVID-19.

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When Mayfield returned to action on Christmas Day versus the Green Bay Packers, he threw a career-high four interceptions in a 24-22 loss at Lambeau Field. He hadn't practiced for two weeks and flew to Green Bay the morning of the game because of COVID-19 protocols.

When the Browns were on their bye week Dec. 1, Berry said he expected Mayfield to play his best football in the final five weeks of the season. Mayfield appeared in three of those five games, with the Browns going 1-2. He completed 55.6% of his passes for 597 yards and six touchdowns with seven interceptions for a rating of 63.3 and took 14 sacks, including nine in a 26-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 3.

“In fairness, he misses two games, plays one game well, one game probably not so well and then probably the third game that he played gets COVID, out two weeks and is there the day of the game," Berry said. "Certainly, those five games did not go the way that we hoped or anticipated, but we expect him to bounce back.”

If the Browns' expectations for Mayfield to start next season don't change between now and the 2022 opener, Berry, Stefanski and everyone else involved had better hope he rewards the leap of faith they would be taking.

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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: GM says Browns fully expect Baker Mayfield to be their starter in 2022