Indianapolis — General Manager Andrew Berry Baker didn't budge in the slightest with his public message about Mayfield.
Berry said during the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday that he expects Mayfield to be the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback next season, as he initially stated it on Jan.
“No, I totally expect it,” Berry told a group of Browns beat writers at the Indiana Convention Center.
Plans can change, and nothing should be completely ruled out at this time of year.
But Berry continued to paint the picture of Brown, giving Mayfield a chance to return from a disappointing, injury-ridden 2021 season.
Asked if he expected to at least compete as quarterback for Mayfield, Berry didn't rule it out.
"I don't know if I can really speak in detail in any (status group's) room at this point because we're on March 1 and the second day of the alliance," Berry said. "It's really about matching resources to opportunity. It's something I'm not necessarily trying to avoid, but that's the truth.
“We really look at it like an expansion team, and if we have the opportunity to match resources with talent, we want to continue to add talent to the roster, and that applies to every situation.”
Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers). Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks). Deshan Watson (Houston Texan). Derek Carr (Las Vegas Raiders). Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings). Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons). Jimmy Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers).
All are seasoned quarterbacks whose futures can change with trading this season.
Falcons coach Arthur Smith said of Ryan, "We expect Matt to be part of the team, but you know, I feel like you're never back in a corner (if someone gives you an offer). gives what you can't refuse)" on the alliance. "Matt knows how we feel about him. I think Matt has great football."
And what about legendary quarterback Tom Brady potentially coming out of retirement and asking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to trade him?
What would another team need to offer for the Books to make such a surprising move worthwhile?
"Five number 1 (picks)? Maybe," quipped Arian.
Berry doesn't envision as much movement among the veteran quarterback as fans and members of the media might have guessed. He specifically stated that the QB trade is not sold on the market being a rare level of opportunity.
Berry said, "I don't know if I necessarily buy it. I think it's a lot of speculation. I mean, quarterbacks rarely walk."
Even if the Browns don't trade for the quarterback on the heels of their 8-9 season, they can sign on to a free agency, which officially kicks off at 4 p.m. . ET on March 16, or choose one of the April 28-30 NFL Drafts.
Adjacent free-agent quarterbacks include Teddy Bridgewater (Denver Broncos), Mitchell Trubisky (Buffalo Bills), Marcus Mariota (Raiders) and Jameis Winston (New Orleans Saints).
What is widely considered to be a less-than-stellar QB draft class was headlined by Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett, Liberty's Malik Willis, Mississippi's Matt Coral, North Carolina's Sam Howell, Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder and Nevada's Carson Strong. has gone.
The Browns will likely draft a wide receiver or defensive end in the first round (13th overall), but the quarterback is a wild-card prospect. Most draft analysts chose Pickett and Willis early on.
"Definitely there's going to be an NFL quarterback starting from this class," said Pittsburgh Steelers GM Kevin Colbert, whose franchise is looking for a successor to recently retired Ben Roethlisberger.
Berry said the Browns haven't done more research on quarterbacks than usual this season because they're always digging into the game's most important positions, no matter who is on their roster.
Mayfield struggled last year, when he suffered an injury almost the entire season after suffering a completely torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder in a Week 2 win over the Houston Texans.
Berry said Mayfield is "on the right track" in his rehabilitation from Labrum's surgery since January 19. Brown previously said Mayfield would start throwing again in April and would make a full recovery by the start of training camp in late July.
"He's had his tail off since the surgery," said Berry, who spoke to Mayfield right after the surgical procedure, and the QB and the organization have been in touch ever since.
1 overall pick in the 2018 draft, Mayfield is under contract through next season, when he will be guaranteed $18.858 million as Berry exercised a fifth-year option on the player's rookie deal last April.
"The reality is we've seen him play at a high level before," Berry said. "Being realistic, the injury has some impact on his performance. We are focused on his recovery. We know how he works. We think he is talented. We saw him play the first playoff- Caliber level. I don't think there is any reason why he can't reach that level next year.