The Browns met with Deshaun Watson on Tuesday, and Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets the team did not inform Mayfield beforehand of its interest in the Texans quarterback. Mayfield then posted a tweet thanking Cleveland, creating an ominous tone for this relationship’s future.
Even if Watson does not end up in Cleveland, the Browns may be preparing to move on from Mayfield. The fifth-year quarterback and the Browns are “breaking up,” Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com said during a TV appearance Wednesday (h/t gifdsports; video link). Mayfield is expected to consider his options, with or without Watson in Cleveland, according to Russini (on Twitter). Mortensen also added the Browns want “an adult” at quarterback. That will surely go over well in what appears to be a divorce in progress.
[RELATED: Latest On Mayfield’s Post-Surgery Timetable]
The former No. 1 pick would be interested in the Colts or Seahawks, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com notes, adding the Browns are now open to trading their four-year starter. It is unclear if either team would reciprocate that interest, but Mayfield appears to be planning for a Cleveland exit. The Seahawks should be considered an option, per Mortensen, who mentions Jimmy Garoppolo as a possible solution for the Browns.
If Watson heads to one of the NFC destinations in play, the Browns would be making a move similar to the Colts’ Carson Wentz trade. Indianapolis currently lacks a viable QB option, ahead of a draft with limited options at the position. The Browns, at least, have their first-round pick in this draft. One year and $18.9MM remains on Mayfield’s rookie contract.
This would be an explosive conclusion to a rocky relationship. Mayfield nearly won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2018 but struggled mightily under Freddie Kitchens in 2019. After his 2020 bounce-back showing that led the Browns to the playoffs, the outspoken quarterback ran into multifront injury trouble — headlined by a significant shoulder malady, which required surgery in January — and saw his 2021 production crater as a result. Mayfield also became a flashpoint figure in the Odell Beckham Jr. drama. Still, the early offseason pointed to the Browns bringing back their quarterback for a redemption shot on his fifth-year option. Plans are changing fast.
I could see him doing ok on the Colts
Reich is the QB whisperer and actually made his boy Wentz look half decent. I’m sure Mayfield would do well in Indy
He’ll go to Seattle. That’s were the idiot kneelers go.
What, can’t handle someone taking a knee?
only your mom
Oh. No. You got me.
Don’t know how I will ever recover from that SICK burn!
Apparently some don’t like that Americans’ have the Right to peacefully protest.
They can do it on their own time.
I don’t need the waiter at the restaurant or the receptionist at my doctors office to “take a knee” before performing their job for me. Nor do I do it before I service people.
Great thing about America is they actually can do it whenever they want. I take a knee at my office, at my dentist, at my favorite coffee shop. Very liberating, you should try it sometime.
@SnowflakeAlert, don’t you ever get tired of getting alerts whenever you make comments?
@coolhandneil, sure they can do peaceful protests, except the problem is there isn’t any racism in the NFL. If you wanna look further, you will find that there are many players who do drugs, beat up their girlfriend/wife, have illegal guns in their possession, do crimes and many more. And we’re supposed to give them respect?
Nah. Hard pass on that one from me.
Uh-oh, looks like we’ve got another snow flake alert! @TheMaskedVaxenger (real creative by the way) is the snowiest of flakes.
@SnowflakeAlert, thanks for the compliment. Sounds like you take the knee a lot for the players in the locker room, which makes sense why you share your wife/girlfriend often.
If you ‘service people’, you’re probably taking both knees.
Beat me to the punch, hahaha
Cool take, Putin.
Never seen so many offended over someone taking a knee.
Must be the same people that complain over smoking a moon but allowed to have an arsenal of weapons.
What’s wrong with me having arms AND smoking a joint?
What so bad in your life that you care so much what others do. I bet you voted for trump
How’s Brandon working for ya?
Who is Brandon? The article is about Baker.
“Mortensen also added the Browns want “an adult” at quarterback”
Because having 22 lawsuits against you makes you a grownup.
I think Mortensen meant to say someone “tried as an adult.”
Well stated, screw ’em Baker. Try again somewhere else.
Nothing says “adult” like numerous sexual assault accusations! But hey, he can throw the ball well, so never mind the off the field stuff.
Jimmy Haslem is the worst owner in the history of the Browns (and they’ve had some doozies), and in the running for the worst owner of any team franchise in American professional sports.
Bob Castellini is on line 1
I was thinking the same thing. Maybe they mean because Mayfield’s so short.
This excuse of his NON THROWING SHOULDER injury being the reason he sucks is bs.
You act like it doesn’t create painful/bothersome situations playing a sport like football and it was significant enough to require surgery. Give me a break. He might not be great, but any injury that needs surgery is going to affect an athlete’s play in some form.
I’m sure you’re 100% the same person if you work hurt.
You assume the OP works.
first winning season in 13 years
first playoff game in 18 years
first playoff win in 26 years
a total culture change
charity work in CLE
waking up dangerously
His biggest mistake was playing on that dead shoulder when he should have sat out. I hope he gets to Indianapolis. Cleveland is headed back to dumpster fire status once Watson turns them down and they lose Baker.
Colts would be great for him. Good offensive line and some weapons in Johnathan Taylor and Michael Pittman.
Colts are the first place I thought of. Maybe the Saints, also a good running team.
Top 10 QB in 2020 up to the injury….fact
Nothing says “We want an adult as our QB” quite as much as pursuing a reprobate that jerks off on massage therapists. This dysfunction has Jimmy Haslam’s fingerprints all over it. I didn’t want to draft Mayfield, but this is doing him dirty.
I agree completely. Mayfield has done and said the wrong thing at times but he’s been a leader on the field and kept his nose clean off of it. And for that matter it’s also not “adult” to call your quarterback names through leaks in the press.
I’ll remind the world that Haslam was involved in a years long conspiracy to defraud the customers of his Pilot truck stops for millions of dollars.
THAT is the NFL’s kind of “adult”.
Yeah, Haslam is a total joke. There’s a few great articles about how bad he is at running a football team and the mixed messages he sends. Jason La Confora wrote one of them and another is titled ‘Inside the Browns’ front office, where hope and history collide’ if anyone wants to google them.
Baker isn’t perfect, but he’d be an improvement for quite a few teams. And if Mortenesen’s report is true and the Browns are leaking bad press about Mayfield, that’s just the wrong way to go about this.
I wonder what kind of price they are looking for in a trade while they badmouth him.
Baker to texans makes a lot of sense.
The Browns say that they want an “Adult” at QB I guess being interested in a QB with 22 or something sexual convictions and possibly an 8-10 game suspension qualifies as being an adult. SMH
Saw a good article that pointed out that even if he can’t go to jail over them, 22 civil trials is still 22 trials.
Separate trials.
Will Texas courts schedule around the Browns’ schedule?
Wouldn’t bank on that.
Adult at qb? Same team that drafted manziel?
At the owners insistence.
Only way I want to see him in Seattle is when he comes on a team they beat the snot out of and sack him 10 times. Don’t want him in a Seahawk uni.
Die hard Steelers fan and I hate the browns more than anyone. That being said baker is getting disrespected. He shouldn’t be given top tier money, but I think Cleveland needs to be careful for what they wish for. This team has only been relevant the past two decades since his arrival. Again, he’s not a top tier qb, but I’d give him another chance before throwing in the towel. Even if they get Watson, I’d be hesitant to call that an automatic upgrade considering he hasn’t played for an entire year.
The Browns are disrespecting baker and Watson is disrespecting Matt Ryan by asking the falcons if they’re interested
I think if Mayfield was available at the time, the Steelers might have tried to get him over Trubisky.
Tomlin has praised him seemingly genuinely and he did beat the Steelers in the playoffs the year before.
Any team that can’t win in 10-year numbers is not a QB issue. Ask Lions fans, it’s ownership. Put Baker on a spit, isn’t gonna be any different in 2025.
Mannnn, if Tomlin and Rooney could just convince Haslam to trade him to Pittsburgh, it would be a match made jn heavy, for both scheme and quality at Qb Postion and Mitch may/may not be. Yes I know not happening lol
The Browns have zero chance of landing Watson but they will obviously use him as a prop to gain an edge in contract negotiations with Mayfield.
Huh?
Mayfield don’t want no stinkin’ contract negotiations.