Baker Mayfield: Im in no rush to get the extension done and Ive bet on myself my whole life – cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio Baker Mayfield might feel the pressure on football field during camp, but hes not feeling it about his looming contract extension.

Im in no rush because Im just trying to win games,' the Browns quarterback said via Zoom Wednesday. Itll handle itself. Im sure [his agents} Tom and Jack Mills are handling that. I dont try and feed to much into that because thats wasting my time and energy and thought process on stuff that Im not in control of right now. So Im going to handle what I can control.'

In the event the Browns can Mayfields camp let the extension stretch into the 2021 season, Mayfield is confident it will work to his advantage. His current market value, according to spotrac.com is about $35 million a year, but he can climb into the $40 million-a-year-range if he has another outstanding season.

Ive bet on myself my whole life and Ive always taken it one day at a time, one play at a time,' he said. Im not going to handle it any differently now.'

Of course, the Browns have already picked up Mayfields fifth-year option for 2022 worth $18.86 million, so theres no sense of urgency to get the new deal done before training camp begins in late July. In fact, its more likely that it could spill into 2021, and even Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said during NFL Draft week that its really more a matter of when than if.

Like I keep saying, I think everything happens for a reason,' Mayfield said. I think the chips will fall where theyre supposed to. Im concerned about winning and thats what everybody in this building needs to be concerned about. Thats not saying that anybody is not, but the concern right now is winning and building a strong foundation for the season.'

Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, was glad to hear his 2018 draft classmates Denzel Ward and Nick Chubb say Tuesday that they want to be here in Cleveland more than anywhere. Ward even said hed love to finish his career here.

Obviously those guys are tremendous teammates, all coming in here together around the same time,' he said. Thatd be very special. But thats one of those things, I think everything happens for a reason and it will handle itself. Just worried about winning.'

Like Ward and Chubb, Mayfield knows that Cleveland is the perfect for him. He said it at the NFL Combine in 2018, and hes never wavered.

Yeah, I think the things that I said even before the draft, right after the draft, Clevelands a town, its about work ethic, a blue-collar mentality, and thats what Ive always been about,' he said. So I think thats why its been a great match.'

Two other quarterbacks from the 2018 class eligible for extensions this offseason are Baltimores Lamar Jackson and Buffalos Josh Allen. Their teams have also given them a vote of confidence and stated their intentions to get their new deals done.

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Baker Mayfield: Im in no rush to get the extension done and Ive bet on myself my whole life - cleveland.com