Follow Us
The Cleveland Browns are coming off a tough 2021 season that saw quarterback Baker Mayfield struggle mightily. Mayfield was also dealing with a number of injuries, which likely contributed to his struggles. Ultimately though, the Browns were reportedly looking elsewhere for a quarterback. News surfaced that the Browns were meeting with Deshaun Watson, in hopes to acquire the former Pro Bowl quarterback from the Houston Texans. That apparently rubbed Baker Mayfield the wrong way. On Thursday, Mayfield officially requested a trade from Cleveland.
Click here to Bet $5, Win $150 in site credits regardless of if your bet wins or loses on March Madness (30-1 Odds)
*To claim, new users need to register, make a first-time deposit, and then simply place their first real-money wager on FanDuel Sportsbook on any March Madness game during the tournament. All winning bets will be fulfilled within 72 hours if they win.*
Mayfield left a bold remark to ESPN, which was tweeted out by Adam Schefter.
Baker Mayfield just told ESPN: “It’s in the mutual interest of both sides for us to move on. The relationship is too far fine to mend. It’s in the best interests of both sides to move on.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2022
“It’s in the mutual interest of both sides for us to move on. The relationship is too far fine to mend. It’s in the best interests of both sides to move on.”
With remarks like that, it’s all but a certainty that Mayfield has played his final snaps for the Cleveland Browns. With that being the case, we examine the three best destinations for Mayfield.
3 Best Destinations for Baker Mayfield Amid Trade Demand
One potential suitor for Baker Mayfield would be the Seattle Seahawks. They traded away Russell Wilson, leaving a gaping hole at the quarterback position. I know the Seahawks organization has said they believe Drew Lock can be the future there, but no one really believes that.
Mayfield is not an elite quarterback. He has holes in his game, that’s undeniable. But he would still be an upgrade. With how things are playing out in Cleveland, Seattle might be able to trade for the embattled Browns quarterback for not much in return.
The Atlanta Falcons might make the most sense for both teams. If the Browns and Falcons swapped quarterbacks, both teams would likely be happy. Of course, Cleveland would probably have to include a bit more in the package to bring in Matt Ryan. But Ryan would be the missing piece that the Browns are looking for to become a Super Bowl contender.
The Falcons would get a young, talented quarterback in return. Ryan’s career is all but over. It would make sense to off-load him to obtain a potential franchise guy without burning draft capital. The return of Tom Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes it unlikely the Falcons win the division the next year or two. But Brady can’t play forever, we think anyway.
In a few years, this division is likely wide open. Atlanta has talent at a lot of different positions and could lock up the most important spot with this trade with the Browns.
If Mayfield were to get deal from Cleveland, the Indianapolis Colts might be just what Baker needs. He would find himself in a similar situation that he was in during the 2020 season when he took the Browns to the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs.
The Colts already have a very good defense. They have a great running game with one of the best tailbacks in the NFL in Jonathan Taylor. But Indianapolis also has Frank Reich. Reich has long been known as a bit of a quarterback whisperer. People might point to Carson Wentz’s inability to get back on track last season.
But if you look at the numbers, Wentz actually had a very good year. One of the biggest knocks on Wentz in Philadephia was his propensity for turning the ball over. Last season, he tied a career-low with only seven interceptions, playing all 17 games. Mayfield has also had issues turning the ball over in Cleveland. It might be worth taking the risk if you are Indianapolis.
New Orleans is still facing quarterback questions this offseason. Jameis Winston is a free agent and is coming off a torn ACL last season. Baker Mayfield might be a solid fit down in the bayou.
Similarly to the Colts, the Saints have one of the best running backs in football in Alvin Kamara. They have an above average defense in Louisiana. They are also going to get former Pro Bowl receiver Michael Thomas from injury. Thomas would potentially be the best receiver Mayfield has ever thrown at. No disrespect to Odell Beckham Jr. but he is no longer a wide receiver one.
Plus, the Browns would be shipping him out of the conference, which is always the preferred option for teams.