Now that the Browns have Deshaun Watson, they’re ready to move on from Baker Mayfield. Trading him, however, could be easier said than done. This week at the league meetings, Browns GM Andrew Berry told reporters that there’s a scenario in which Mayfield remains on the team in 2022.
“We feel like we have three good [quarterbacks], and a lot of teams are still looking for one guy, so you don’t mind being deep here,” Berry said (via ESPN.com). “Quarterbacks are valuable. Baker’s a good player and you can’t have enough good players on your roster. … So, we don’t really feel pressed to rush into anything that’s suboptimal.”
Teams likely have concerns about Mayfield’s injured left shoulder — a likely culprit in his down 2021. There’s also his contract, one that carries a fully-guaranteed $18.858MM this year. Meanwhile, interested clubs know that the Browns aren’t really looking to hang on to Mayfield as Watson’s backup, given the former first-round pick’s base salary and unwillingness to play second fiddle.
It’s unlikely that Mayfield will show for the Browns’ voluntary offseason program on April 19, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, but he could potentially be there for mandatory minicamp from June 14-16. Effectively, it’ll be a move by Mayfield to prevent a breach of contract.
It’s possible that the Browns could swing a trade sometime around draft weekend. In the meantime, Mayfield is busy throwing to a group of non-Browns players, including Cole Beasley, Danny Amendola, and Alex Bachman.
“So, we don’t really feel pressed to rush into anything that’s suboptimal.”
More like…
“So, AFTER we traded all those draft picks and fully guaranteed all that money to that accused sex offender with absolutely no real plan for what to do with the almost $20 million a year QB we already had and no real options left to trade him, we don’t really feel pressed ANY LONGER to rush into anything that’s suboptimal…anymore than we already have.”
They’ll take their sweet time getting to suboptimal.
They said the same thing about Drew Brees arm while with Chargers. Went to New Orleans rest was history.
At this point they’re better off waiting until training camp and hoping someone gets hurt. Kind of try to pull the same move as the Eagles did with Sam Bradford to the Vikings.
Panthers? Falcons? Lions? Giants? Seahawks?
Surely he’s going to end up a starter somewhere shortly.
I’d bet that some to most of those teams would be interested, but not at his current salary. Browns would have to eat money.
Not necessarily. I could see him going somewhere and signing a 2-3 year extension, giving Mayfield the opportunity to raise his value and then hit free agency at 29 or 30 years old. It’s not like he has zero value as a starter. He had a very good year in 2020 and then he was injured in 2021.
If you are the team that trades for him you’d HAVE to make sure he renegotiates his contract, as nobody wants to trade picks for a guy that could opt for free agency in 2023.
Exactly. I honestly could see Tampa doing something like this for him to sit behind Brady this year and take over in 2023. Arians supposedly was high on him but not sure how much say he has now that he’s been neutered by Tom. Of course Mayfield would have to restructure his deal to take less money this year. I think this will be Brady’s last year in Tampa.
Well – back Giants out of that. They have publicly stated they are behind Daniel Jones. Which I can not believe they view him as someone worthy of holding one of the top 32 starting QB positions in the world. That in itself is stunning to me.
Giants already have Jones and Tyrod Taylor under contract and don’t have the cap space to add Baker unless Bradberry was involved.
Browns don’t need Bradbury
One of the reasons the Giants make no sense as a destination.
But the Browns number one ‘need’ is to trade Mayfield. They’re not really in a position to say ‘no’ to anyone with a reasonable offer. If push came to shove, they’d take Bradberry and live with it (or trade him somewhere else).
No they wouldn’t
I mean, it’s not like the Browns have completely and utterly ruined any bargaining position they have with wanting to trade Baker… wait…
He’ll get moved after the draft. QB needy teams want to see if they can draft one.
Don’t assume any team will still be ready to pay $20 million and give up draft picks for a one year rental. Browns being the Browns…
Why trade for him? He won’t play. Just wait for them to cut him and sign him to a lower salary
His salary is fully guaranteed, so if he was cut any signing team would pay league minimum I believe
The league should have Andrew Berry submit to a drug test if he actually believes Mayfield would remain in Cleveland after the organization tried to humiliate him.
What did Andrew Berry do wrong? He Looked at this Roster and said the QB is the weakest link so he went and Upgraded the Position and everybody talking about how many #1 picks they had to give up. Go back and look at how Many player’s the Browns took in the first round that turned out to be Bums before Andrew Berry became apart of the front Office. ( I’ll Wait)
Well, Berry had to have seen this coming when he gambled the franchise’s future on Watson and that deal. And he must’ve over estimated Mayfield’s value since deals were made for every other viable starting QB but his and now he’s stuck. But that’s just a blip compared to what’ll happen if Watson is injured or under performs. And yes, you’ll have to “wait” and see whether Berry turns out to be a genius or another bum.
First you have to look at the past before you can say he gambled away the Future Tim Couch, Johnny Manziel, Courtney Brown, Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden, Justin Gilbert, William Green, Barkevious Mingo, Phil Taylor, Trent Richardson, Danny Shelton Gerard Warren, Cameron Erving, Braylon Edwards, Jeff Faine, Kamerion Wimbley, Kellen Winslow II, All Bum’s This is how many picks they hit on Myles Garrett, Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, Joe Haden, and Denvel Ward these are all First Round Picks since 2000. So that’s your Future
Well, I didn’t say he gambled away their future. I said that you don’t know yet whether he did or not. Time will tell.
2 quarterbacks have changed teams since the Browns got Watson. Colts who went after Ryan instead and the Falcons who are tanking and went with Mariotto. Denver and Washington I believe would have had an interest.
I’m not a Browns fan so I don’t care what roster decisions Berry makes. He’s kidding himself if he thinks Mayfield will stay in Cleveland though….that bridge has been burned.
is it legal for an employer to tell someone what to do with their lawsuits?
I believe the Mafia solve that conundrum by simply whacking anyone who might be considered a potential rat.
If I was Baker I come up with a hammy in the first game and tell management to kiss his A$$
That group is a major $hit storm
Such a major $hit storm that three members of that “group” were interviewed for GM jobs with other organizations with one hired. Yeah, you’re right.
Frozeninohio not a Browns fan but agree you don’t have that much talent and be a $hit storm. That would be a team like the Jets or Fexans
That was before the Watson trade. Lets see how many teams are interviewing “the group” next off season when all of this plays out. They paid a hefty fee for a barely .500 QB with one playoff win and off field drama.
Joe Burrow is under 500.
That would be a hefty price to pay for Burrow too! I wouldn’t trade that many picks and give that guaranteed contract to Burrow, and he isn’t a verified creep.
Lamar Jackson is 37-12 and yet I think most teams believe that Watson is the better quarterback, minus the baggage which will blow over once this is settled. 4-6 game suspension. This year is the 13th pick but hopefully the next 2 picks in the 1st round will be late 20’s. Not exactly can’t miss picks. I’d rather have a top tier quarterback for 10 years
Watson probably will be suspended this year so how about one last dance with Baker
No chance. The league won’t suspend him until after the civil cases are done. If he fights them, that’s not going to be until after the season. Most he’ll get is 4-6 games anyway
If the civil cases turn out bad for him, he’s getting a hell of a lot more than 4-6 games.
I doubt it. I honestly think the Browns know already what possible suspension he’d get. No criminal charges. Why did none of these women go to the authorities the next day? I could understand some not going, but I don’t believe anyone went the next day. Is Watson a little freaky? Absolutely, but if I’m the NFL, I have to look at the fact that neither grand jury would indict him
4-6 games per violation of the personal conduct policy?? Didn’t he violate the policy at least 22 times that we know of? It is pretty generous of the league to not punish each violation separately. Even though there is no criminal charge. Conduct policy doesn’t require a crime to be commited.
I said 4-6 games and apparently that’s what the media in Cleveland is hearing too. These are accusations in which they decided that there was not enough evidence to prosecute. The NFL is not going to suspend someone for a year without proof or admission of guilt. So far, there is neither
Read the depositions. Dude is gross.
I’m curious if Kevin Colbert calls Andrew Berry, and says, I will give you 2022 3rd pick for baker, and lick up half the salary(although Pittsburgh should pull the trigger even if picking up all of Salary) . Would Cleveland do it, with it being a division rival…?!
This Group is Funny do you Really think if Deshaun was guilty of any of this either grand jury wouldn’t have pressed charges against him? All of these acquisitions came out after he told the Houston he wouldn’t play another down for them again and within a month all these women who work for the owner comes forth. This is all BS and that’s why he’s not settling
He may not be settling but he will be paying!
This is for everybody who is worried about how many # 1 picks the Browns gave up to get a Better Quarterback. Same Year Johnny Manziel, Justin Gilbert, Courtney Brown, Brandon Weeden, Brady Quinn, Willam Green, Barkevious Mingo, Phil Taylor, Trent Richardson, Danny Shelton, Gerard Warren, Cameron Erving, Braylon Edwards, Kamerion Wimbledon, Kellen Winslow II, Jeff Faine all Jokes. So since 2000 these are the players they hit on Joe Thomas,Joe Haden, Alex Mack, Myles Garret, Denver Ward. So who Cares about a # 1 Draft Pick
Exactly. And most of these were top 10 picks. This year Houston will get 13 and hopefully the next 2 years Houston will get late 20’s or 31 or 32.
I said 4-6 games and apparently that’s what the media in Cleveland is hearing too. These are accusations in which they decided that there was not enough evidence to prosecute. The NFL is not going to suspend someone for a year without proof or admission of guilt. So far, there is neither