The Cleveland Browns are serious in their pursuit of Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, making it clear that Baker Mayfield no longer has a future with the franchise.
Mayfield himself fueled the speculations that he's getting traded this offseason after he posted what seemed to be a farewell message to the Browns and the city of Cleveland on Tuesday.
Unfortunately for Mayfield, it's unlikely he'll be part of the trade package that the Browns could send to the Texans if they agree on a Watson deal. Houston apparently has no interest in players and wants picks in return as they try to rebuild the franchise.
With that said, Cleveland has to deal Mayfield in a separate transaction, something that they are ready to do when the future of the team at QB gets more clarity. In fact, Mayfield reportedly has already a preferred destination in mind, as Pro Football Network insider Tony Pauline recently revealed (via PFN).
Article Continues BelowPauline reported that he was told Browns’ general manager Andrew Berry has promised to work with Mayfield’s team and send him to a place of his choosing — if at all possible. If Mayfield had his choice, that place would be Indianapolis to play for the Colts, another team on the cusp of getting into the playoffs.
The Indianapolis Colts are certainly intriguing for Baker Mayfield, and there might be a mutual need in that regard. The Indiana squad recently traded Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders, and unfortunately for them, the QB pool in the 2022 NFL free agency is rapidly shrinking.
With that said, the Colts could certainly benefit from acquiring Mayfield from the Browns. Beyond the man under center, they also have all the talent they need to compete for the playoffs.
As for Mayfield, a change in scenery might be exactly what he needs as he looks to reinvigorate his career and prove that he is one of the elites in the NFL. He hasn't really found a good rhythm in Cleveland, struggling with inconsistency for the most part of his four-year stint with the team.
It remains to be seen what will happen to Mayfield, but one thing seems to be obvious: his future won't be in Cleveland.