There was speculation heading into the NFL offseason that the Cleveland Browns were going to move on from Baker Mayfield after a shaky 2021 season. That speculation turned to reality after Cleveland dealt for Houston Texans star Deshaun Watson, effectively putting Mayfield squarely on the trade block amid rumors that were already swirling. There are those who still believe in Mayfield's ability. Count former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar as one of them, as the former Super Bowl champion had a pretty hot take on Mayfield, as reported by Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.
“Baker showed he can take a team to the playoffs,” Kosar said during a cocktail reception before the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. “We were 8-9 last year with him being hurt, playing at probably 60-65%. Baker Mayfield at 100% is absolutely going to be a winning quarterback again in the league.”
Bernie Kosar didn't hold back. Kosar believes that Mayfield, who battled a painful shoulder injury this past season, can “absolutely be a winning quarterback” in the NFL when healthy.
Article Continues BelowThe Browns aren't going to want to hear that after they unloaded their chest of draft capital to acquire Deshaun Watson, who may not be out of the proverbial legal woods just yet. Mayfield is no Watson, but Kosar certainly has a point here.
The Browns went 8-9 with Mayfield playing when he probably shouldn't have been. Just two seasons ago, Mayfield led Cleveland to an 11-5 record while throwing for 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
With trade rumors swirling, Baker Mayfield is likely to be playing in a different uniform in 2022. He will get his chance to make Bernie Kosar look like a prophet.