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Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday he’s confident the ongoing saga between the team and quarterback Baker Mayfield could soon be resolved.
“I think we’ll see,” Stefanski said at the NFL owners’ meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. “I think everyone understands the situation. We hope there will be a conclusion at some point.”
His comments come as Mayfield remained on the Browns roster Monday, about 10 days after the team traded for former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who agreed to a five-year, $230 million deal.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday, January 3, 2022 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J Puskar)
Mayfield has been the Browns’ quarterback since his rookie season after the team picked him 1st overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. This month, Mayfield thanked Cleveland fans in a message on social media, and his guaranteed full base salary of $18.858 million in 2022 is likely to impact trade efforts.
On Monday Stefanski called the situation “unique”.
“We have to see how things continue,” said the coach. “I think we all would have liked an answer yesterday, but that’s not the reality.”
Stefanski said he expects Watson – who still faces 22 civil lawsuits over sexual assault allegations – to fully participate in the Browns’ offseason program beginning April 18.
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry, left, new quarterback Deshaun Watson, center, and head coach Kevin Stefanski pose for a photo during a news conference at the NFL football team’s training facility Friday, March 25, 2022, in Berea, Ohio . (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
He said the team welcomed Watson off the field despite his problems and the manager noted he will try to ensure those problems don’t distract the team.
“I think that’s important to our players, coaches and our building in general,” Stefanski said, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. “We understand that there are questions and we will continue this dialogue. But at the end of the day, we also have our work to do. That’s what we need to focus on. … You have to be present and be where your feet are. That’s really going to be our approach to everything.”
The Browns received backlash from fans after Watson was hired, and the manager said the team was trying to “get everyone’s point of view”.
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“I just want to make sure I’m available in our building for everyone to talk about because it’s not something that’s been taken lightly,” the coach added. “It’s just too important. I wanted to make sure everyone understood that this took weeks, months, weeks of information gathering and discussion, and conversations. It’s not something we should take lightly.”
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield walks into the locker room after the Browns defeated the Detroit Lions 13-10 in an NFL football game Sunday, November 21, 2021 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Mayfield struggled with a shoulder injury last season as he started 14 games and threw for just 3,010 yards and 17 touchdowns, the lowest totals of his career.
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In 2020, Mayfield led the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002, throwing for 3,563 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions.