Baker Mayfield, selected first overall in the 2018 NFL draft out of Oklahoma by the Cleveland Browns, finds himself in a fascinating limbo right now. When his NFL team went YOLO in all the worst possible ways and traded for Deshaun Watson, the “win above all else” mentality left Mayfield in the lurch. That trade happened almost a month ago, and there’s Mayfield with no real NFL future in his current location. Unless the Browns are anticipating a lengthy Watson suspension in 2022, and would have Mayfield as the starter through that process, it seems a bit unfair to hold onto him when he could benefit another team. Espeically after he played through several injuries in 2021.
Not that we should feel sorry for Mayfield from a financial perspective. The Browns picked up his fifth-year option, which gives him $18.858 million guaranteed for 2022, and that happens no matter what. It’s also possible that teams are waiting for the Browns to cut Mayfield, so they won’t have to give up any trade capital for a guy who is on the outs with his current team.
Wednesday on the Ya Neva Know podcast, Mayfield made it clear that he feels disrespected by the organization.
“One-hundred percent,” Mayfield said. “I was told one thing, and they completely did another.”
Baker Mayfield on the @ynk_podcast: “I feel disrespected — 100%. Because I was told one thing and they completely did another. That’s what I’m in the middle of right now. I've had 4 different head coaches in four years. A bunch of different coordinators." pic.twitter.com/Eok9peq7Vc
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 13, 2022
Mayfield said that the Seattle Seahawks, who traded Russell Wilson to the Broncos for picks and players, are “probably the most likely option” for him. Seattle’s quarterback depth chart right now starts with Drew Lock, acquired in the Wilson trade, the possible return of Geno Smith, and Jacob Eason.
I don’t care how much the Seahawks believe in Lock’s future, and I know that they do — this isn’t going to get it done if Seattle intends to contend. At all.
So, maybe Mayfield finds his way to the Emerald City over time. It would certainly a better situation for him, because given what the Browns gave up for Watson, there is no competition possible. And while Mayfield isn’t a Top 10 quarterback, he deserves the opportunity to compete for a job where jobs are available. If he’s healthy in 2022, there is some interesting upside.
“I was trying to be tough and fight through it, but then physically I wasn’t as capable of doing what I would normally,” Mayfield said about last season. “When I wasn’t performing on the field, that’s when it really started to go downhill. Because I can tough it out, I don’t care, I’m not going to complain about it, like everybody is banged up. But then when it started hindering my play and going downhill, that’s when I was like, ‘Oh, [expletive].
“That’s when I started losing my own self-confidence and losing myself. This past year was rough. It was. It was rough on me, my family. It sucked because I knew what I could be doing, but I physically wasn’t in a state to do it.”
This current year has also been rough for Mayfield, who has made his points clear. Now, it’s up to the Browns to make a brighter future possible.
