The Cleveland Browns are ready to move on from Baker Mayfield after trading for Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. Unfortunately, they can't seen to move the 26-year-old quarterback.
According to Ian Rapoport of ESPN, there are definitely a number of interested teams in Mayfield, but there is one big problem holding back those NFL franchises in pulling the trigger: salary.
Mayfield has a base salary of $18 million, which is proving to be the biggest hindrance in trading him. Teams just don't want to commit that much money on a QB that even the Browns don't want. With that said, the only way for Cleveland to move him without cutting or releasing him would be to eat some of his pay.
“It doesn’t seem like anyone is interested at this salary,” Rapoport emphasized. “The ‘at this salary part' is key because Baker Mayfield is unlikely to be traded at $18 million. If the Browns are able to eat some money, or the agent and new team can work it out and come up with some sort of answer to split or deal with Mayfield's salary, I believe he’ll be traded. I don’t get the sense the Browns will release him.”
For what it's worth, Baker Mayfield doesn't have a lot of value right now if recent reports are to be believed. Another factor contributing to the lack of trade discussions surrounding him is reportedly teams asking a pick attached with the QB.
In normal circumstances, it's the Browns who should be asking for picks. Nonetheless, that is not the case here, which means some teams see trading for Mayfield as a liability of sorts.
“The Browns had conversation with team about Baker [Mayfield] and the team asked for a pick from the Browns to take Mayfield’s contract,” Adam Schefter of ESPN reported.
It remains to be seen what the Browns plan to do with Mayfield. It's unlikely he'll still be playing for the Browns come the 2022 campaign, but with the lack of movement on the trade end, Cleveland might be forced to cut him instead.
Of course there is still time for the team to find a trade partner, but the prospects are not looking good as of the moment.
From NFL Now: Teams are interested in Baker Mayfield, but not at that salary. A look at what's next, how it'll play out… and whether the #Browns could just keep him. pic.twitter.com/cQIzyZoaRK
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 25, 2022
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