Baker Mayfield Rumors: Browns Equipped to Compile On a Factual Chunk of Contract to Commerce QB

The Cleveland Browns like yet to trade Baker Mayfield after their acquisition this offseason of Deshaun Watson. 

But despite the latter dealing with a imaginable suspension, Mayfield’s persevered presence on Cleveland’s roster in all probability is no longer an insurance opinion in that match, but it be extra the Browns looking to develop maximum mark in a doable trade, per Albert Breer of SI.com:

“I variety no longer ponder the Browns are keeping onto Mayfield as a Watson suspension insurance coverage. And I ponder how they’ve operated is proof. My knowing is Cleveland’s already offered to bewitch on a appropriate chunk of his $18.858 million in guaranteed cash for this plunge to facilitate a trade. And a trade may perchance well well even like already came about in the occasion that they had been sharp to bewitch on extra. Which is the attach this essentially does attain appropriate down to rate, horrible and simple.”

If the Browns had been delaying a Mayfield trade to belief how the Watson trade shakes out, why mark Jacoby Brissett and Josh Dobbs? 

As Breer argues, “the crew is on the purpose of scramble on with out Mayfield, no topic what happens with Watson.”

And there is no longer unparalleled damage for Cleveland in ready out the trade market. A bigger deal may perchance well well also materialize closer to the season when groups imprint their concerns on the reputation or an ruin necessitates a exercise-now acquisition. 

Ready out that market in resolution to merely chopping ties with Mayfield straight away is the logical transfer. As Breer argues, buying and selling Mayfield—even in the occasion that they clutch up some of his wage—and getting draft property in return makes extra sense than chopping him, getting nothing in return and serene being “on the hook for all but whatever yet every other crew signs him for.”

The enlighten leaves Mayfield’s future in limbo, then all over again, and one risk of leaving him on the hook for too prolonged is increasing a toxic trouble. The last thing the Browns settle on to close is make a reputation among NFL veterans for leaving a participant out to dry. 

Granted, Mayfield’s topsy-turvy four years in Cleveland didn’t precisely develop him a preferred resolve in the course of town. Whereas he showed flashes of being a participant mighty of his top total alternative in the 2018 NFL draft, main Cleveland to a playoff berth in 2020, he struggled by accidents the next season. In 2021, he threw for appropriate 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, finishing up 60.5 p.c of his passes. 

Watson modified into once an beef up from a football sense. But there are serene optics to the divorce with Mayfield that the Browns settle on to love in tips. For the time being, then all over again, sluggish-playing the enlighten is wise for the crew.