Browns News: Team Picks Up Baker Mayfield's Option

In one of the least surprising moves of the offseason, the Cleveland Browns have picked up Baker Mayfield's fifth-year option. This will keep the former Heisman Trophy winner in Cleveland through the 2022 season, and it's probably a precursor to a longer extension.

Baker Mayfield Contract

Mayfield is now set to make $18.8 million in the 2022 campaign. This move represents a huge jump in salary for Mayfield in 2022, as he carried a cap hit of $9 million last year and has a $10.5 million cap hit in 2021.

With the increase in salary, and an even larger one likely on the horizon, general manager Andrew Berry will have to be smart about how he builds this roster moving forward.

Still, the move was a no-brainer. Mayfield has helped dragged Cleveland out of the NFL's basement, and he looks poised for a career year in 2021. The former No. 1 overall pick is worth every penny.

Denzel Ward Contract

In a similar move, the Browns also exercised Denzel Ward's fifth-year option. Ward will count for $13.2 million against the cap in 2022 and just under $9.5 million against the cap this season.

Both look like integral pieces of this franchise moving forward.

Cleveland currently has +2000 odds to win the Super Bowl according to FanDuel Sportsbook, giving the Browns the eighth-best odds in the NFL.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook today and get your first bet risk free for up to $1,000!

Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.