Baker Mayfield and the Browns haven’t started extension talks yet, but newly extended Joel Bitonio knows ‘he’

BEREA, Ohio — Baker Mayfield couldn’t have been happier Wednesday about Browns guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller getting their extensions, and still isn’t concerned about his own.

“No. First, congratulations to both of them,’’ he said Wednesday after practice. “I already told them that in person. Two extremely deserving guys of those extensions. They deserve that. They protect me. They protect all of our guys. They are team-first guys. Joel has obviously been the consistent guy here for a long time, and Wyatt for the past few years.

“We are very happy to have them extended obviously, but that changes nothing with me. I’m still trying to just find a way to win games, and everything else will take care of itself.”

With the trade deadline behind them, the Browns turned their attention to wrapping up their top talent, and signed Teller to a four-year extension through 2025 on Tuesday worth $14.2 million a year, which makes him the third-highest paid guard in the NFL.

On Wednesday, they signed Bitonio to a three-year extension worth $16 million, making him the highest paid guard in the NFL by a smidge.

While the millions are being doled out, Mayfield and the Browns haven’t engaged in substantive contract talks yet, but they could start before the end of the season. If this season is anything like last season, Mayfield will perform better now that Odell Beckham Jr. is gone, and should continue to climb after Jarvis Landry recovers more from his knee injury, and Kareem Hunt returns from his calf injury.

He’s currently 12th in the NFL with a 99.4 rating, and 25th in QBR at 44.4 He’s thrown only eight touchdown passes, but also only three interceptions. He’s coming off a big 41-16 victory over the Bengals, and preparing to make it two straight Sunday in New England. He’s 27-26 overall, and 4-4 this season.

He’s under contract in 2022 for his option tender of $18.585 million, but the Browns intend to wrap him up to a long-term deal as soon as it makes sense.

Bitonio, for one, can’t wait for Mayfield to join the recent extension club, which includes Myles Garrett and Nick Chubb.

“Of course,’’ Bitonio said. “I think he’s shown a lot. From Day 1, before he even got drafted by the Cleveland Browns, he said, ‘I want to go to Cleveland. I want to help turn that around.’ Having that mentality, the toughness he plays with, the savvy he plays with and the ability he shows when he plays football, I think he’s the right guy for the job.

“I would love to see that, but I didn’t even know about my contract until a few days ago. It’s a lot. I know we are in-season right now, and the team is really starting to focus in on going 1-0 this week. He’s our guy, and we love Bake, his personality and his ability. He is someone who I think people rally around.”

Of the 13 quarterbacks Bitonio has blocked for in his eight-year career, Mayfield stands out the most.

“He’s our quarterback now and in the future,’’ Bitonio said. “That’s my guy. I talked to Joe Thomas about this when he was here, and he had blocked for so many different quarterbacks. He was like there so many different things you have to worry about – there are set points, how they get rid of the ball, their cadence and things like – but if you prepare yourself to play, then you are in a good position.

“There are definitely some random names that get thrown in there (laughter). We have had a few different experiences. It’s been a whirlwind, and hopefully, like I said, we have Baker here for the foreseeable future.”

When it is Mayfield’s turn, this is one line he won’t mind being in back of.