After the Browns ended Baker Mayfield‘s four-year tenure as their starter by trading for Deshaun Watson, the former No. 1 overall pick figures to be an option for another team in need of a QB1. Mayfield has his eye on another AFC team.
Mayfield would prefer to be traded to the Colts, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports (on Twitter), and has informed the Browns of his ideal destination. One season remains on Mayfield’s contract, with the Browns having picked up his fully guaranteed fifth-year option — worth $18.9MM — last year. The Colts have shown interest in Mayfield, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets, but no notable discussions have occurred yet.
The Colts make sense as a Mayfield destination. They ditched Carson Wentz after one season and do not have a first-round pick, which the team sent to Philadelphia in the Wentz deal. Prior to Mayfield requesting a trade Thursday, the Browns were willing to work with their now-former starting quarterback in a trade. However, they were not prepared to accommodate his trade request Thursday. Of course, that was before Cleveland came in with a market-reshaping offer for Watson. Mayfield is now expected to be moved. His lack of a no-trade clause could prompt the Browns to move him to an NFC team, so it will be interesting to see how the team treats its longtime starter on the way out.
Indianapolis could easily fit Mayfield’s salary onto its payroll; the team created plenty of cap space by unloading Wentz. The Colts lead the NFL in cap space, at nearly $40MM, and have a glaring need at quarterback. Mayfield would obviously be an upgrade over anyone presently on the Colts. The Colts have a playoff-caliber roster, which features NFL rushing champion Jonathan Taylor. Though the team needs pass-catching help, Mayfield is undoubtedly intrigued by the talent in Indy.
The Seahawks lurk here as well. They emerged as a possibility for Mayfield earlier this week, and USA Today’s Josina Anderson tweets they have inquired on both Mayfield and Matt Ryan. Seattle would prefer an experienced QB, Anderson adds. While Pete Carroll indicated the Seahawks were fans of Drew Lock as a prospect, he bounced in and out of the Broncos’ starting lineup during a rocky three-year tenure. Ryan’s contract remains onerous for the Falcons to trade, and without Watson in the picture, Atlanta greenlighting a 15th season with Ryan would make sense financially.
Doubt the Seahawks are interested in Mayfield unless the cost is a mid round pick.
You also guaranteed they wouldn’t trade Russ.
Yes, I was wrong on RW. At the same time where do I guarantee no Mayfield? I said I doubt it.
That’s fair, no guarantee here
Hawks will trade 2 firsts for Baker forsure. Haha
After all he did for that franchise the least they could do is send him where he wants. (Assuming the deal is the best one out there or close. It is a business after all.).
I don’t even know what would be fair for him. A first and a couple swaps?
No way they get a first for 1 year of mayfield
Normally agree but since there’s competition and it’s a cheap 1 year for a QB1, I expect a team to overpay….like the browns did with Watson.
After all he did….they ought to send him to the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, or the Siberian Sled Dogs.
You want to treat the QB that won a playoff game for the Browns for the first time in decades this way? If so you deserve losing karma.
A 4th or 5th maybe?
Why would anyone trade for anything for Mayfield? He is not worth his current $ value(aka Sam Darnold revisited). If the Browns cut him, then sure pick him up for a Mitch Trubisky type contract(which you can’t, since his 5th year has already been guaranteed), if you desperately need a QB, but, outside of that, I can not see why anyone would trade anything for him at his current price. Indy? Is he really an upgrade over C Wentz? Sorry, I don’t see it.
The don’t have Wentz anymore and desperately need a QB, fitting your criteria.
Ok, but why trade anything for him? You can give up nothing for a Winston, as just one of many examples. Plus, I doubt you have to pay Winston $20m guaranteed this year. I guess, if the Browns ate 1/2 his last year, and you gave up a 6th rd pick, maybe I could see it. Outside of that, why? The Colts have some talent, but if they thought Wentz couldn’t get them into contention, why would they think Mayfield could? Especially now, against the other QB’s the AFC has – Mahomes, Burrow, Hubert, Jackson, Wilson, Watson, Carr, Allen, etc. That is not counting the two young “potential” QB’s in Lawrence and Wilson.
Winston can easily get $20 million as a starting QB in 2022. That’s less than half the amount that high end starters like Mahomes, Allen, or especially Rodgers, are getting. Bridgewater was making $11.5 million in guarantees when the Panthers signed him years ago, before he was traded to Denver. That was before the latest cap raise and Rodgers signing his new deal. It would certainly not be absurd to expect a young quarterback like Mayfield to be signed to that type of contract.
Mayfield profiles as a longer term solution than Winston. I agree that Wentz to Mayfield doesn’t seem like much of a jump, and I think that either quarterback has or had the potential to take the Colts to the playoffs next year. I don’t think that a play action loving quarterback like Mayfield going to a strong running team in Indianapolis is a bad move at all. However, I do agree that there does not seem to be much of a jump from Wentz to Mayfield, especially considering how both players played significant portions of last season with major injuries. I don’t know how accurate a picture we got of either last year through those struggles, or possibly how those injuries will affect their future play.
The Colts have a good roster, but jumping from QB to QB every year will not give them any stability to get to the playoffs, even if their QB choices are more productive than most teams who cannot find a long term quarterback.
Wentz was not injured last year.
Wentz injured his ankle in training camp and missed the preseason. He then also injured his other ankle during the season. He left in the middle of the game in week 2 and played on his injured ankles the games following. He was certainly injured.
My question is how much is his poor performance circumstance and how much of it is injury and if so is it something he can bounce back from or is he RG IV?
I think both Reich and Carroll are very ‘positive’ reinforcement kind of coaches. The team/scheme would be the next consideration in the football territory I would think.
Colts should get Garoppolo whom is an adult, a leader, well liked by his teammates and dependable. The Colts made it clear they want an “Adult” not a clown as their QB.
Garoppolo took his team to the NFC championship game the past 2 out of 3 years. The Colts can get back to championship play with Jimmy.
Dude, look who the browns just got! I guess a rapist in your mind is an adult and not a clown. The Browns royally screwed over Mayfield. So now the Browns got their “adult”
I’m sorry, but did Justice even mention the Browns in his or her comment about the Colts and Garoppolo?
The “adult” thing that was cited was also in a series of articles currently put out by Florio disparaging Mayfield. For someone who had an enormous issue with the anonymous report about Kyler Murray’s maturity, he seems to have no issue writing the same accusations about Baker Mayfield.
Correction: The 49ers took Jimmy Garoppolo to the playoffs.
You didn’t here the pats big move this yr is Mayfield to NE Jones to Seattle And draft picks plus players to the Browns
As a Hawk fan I would 100% take Jones over Mayfield. But the best they would get is their 3rd round pick.
NBA style trade:
Browns: Calvin Ridley and 3rd round pick from the Colts
Colts: Matt Ryan
Falcons: Baker Mayfield and a 2nd round pick from the Colts
Browns get another quality receiver for Watson. Although he is currently suspended. But when he returns you’ll have two really good catchers in Copper and Ridley. Plus you get a third round pick in the mean time.
Colts get a quality experienced QB. With Taylor constantly running the ball and a solid o line ahead of Ryan he wouldn’t be relied upon to do to much.
Falcons get a fresh start with a new younger QB and also get a second round pick. Falcons just need to completely rebuild that offence and getting in Baker could be a start
Colts already traded their 1st this year, they’re not trading their 2nd and 3rd round picks for Matt Ryan under any scenario. Atlanta should pay the colts to take his contract off their books
Not that I think Browns are playoff bound but why would they send Baker to a team they may have to cross paths with in the playoffs? Baker is a nice fit in Seattle.. they want to run 65% of the time and he would have a good TE and 2 great WR when he does have to throw
So where are the Browns weak?
Receiver .. Amari overrated but solid … nothing after that. NJoku … ( excuse spelling please ) is a grossly overrated TE … top 20 maybe … Line took some hits … Best running backs , I’ll give you that … but even with Watson I see them as 3rd in the division.
No way does Indy give a 2nd & 3rd for Ryan. Don’t see them trading for Baker or Jimmy G either. I see them signing Winston or Mariota and keeping draft capital.
I feel like he would be an awesome fit with the eagles
Wouldn’t be surprised to see the giants as a sleeper team if they can get the cap figure to fit in.
Colts have Sam Ehlinger!
WTF!!!!!
Lol
Garappolo would probably be cheaper and a better option, as the Browns are likely looking for the moon in order to justify their own overpayment in the Watson trade.