According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Buccaneers have evaluated Browns QB Baker Mayfield in case he should become available via trade (Twitter link). The Bucs are reportedly still part of the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, though they could be battling a host of other teams, including the Browns, for his services.
Mayfield’s future in Cleveland is uncertain at the moment. While the club has publicly committed to him as its starting signal-caller for 2022, no extension talks will take place this offseason. As such, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 draft is scheduled to play out the upcoming campaign on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, worth a fully-guaranteed $18.9MM.
Cleveland’s reluctance to authorize a long-term accord for Mayfield is understandable. After a promising showing as a rookie, the Oklahoma product — along with the rest of the offense — took a major step back during Freddie Kitchen‘s only season as head coach in 2019. Everything was looking rosy for all involved in 2020, Kevin Stefanski‘s first year at the helm, which saw Mayfield post a top-10 QBR en route to a divisional round appearance.
However, the Browns regressed again in 2021, compiling an 8-9 record and failing to make it back to the playoffs. For his part, Mayfield struggled through a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder and finished near the bottom of the league in terms of QBR and quarterback rating, so of his four professional seasons, two of them can be fairly classified as major disappointments.
If Cleveland is able to acquire Watson, Mayfield would land squarely on the trade block (unless, of course, he heads to the Texans as part of the Watson deal). Assuming the Bucs like what they have seen on film, they could then make a push for Mayfield to fill the void left by Tom Brady, provided Brady doesn’t reverse course and decide to suit up for Bruce Arians for one more season.
Stroud’s report suggests that the evaluation Tampa Bay has done is more due diligence than anything else. Indeed, it’s unclear if Watson would waive his no-trade clause for the Browns — ESPN’s Kimberley A. Martin believes that he would not (Twitter link) — and it presently seems as if any other veteran passer that Cleveland might acquire this offseason (like Marcus Mariota or Mitchell Trubisky) would be brought in as competition for Mayfield, not as a replacement.
Still, it’s yet another indication that the Bucs have every intention of competing in 2022 and adding a legitimate starter to a QB room that currently features only 2021 second-rounder Kyle Trask.
For some reason I cannot see Baker anywhere but in Cleveland this season. Too many questions with Watson and not sure LV is moving Carr – or if we could put together the right package for him.
Agreed. I don’t think Cleveland would give up too much draft capital for Watson and I don’t think Houston wants mayfield in return, I think Carolina or Seattle gets Watson and mayfield stays in Cleveland to give them a mediocre season or a good enough season to put them in extension/franchise tag/or not resign at all purgatory.
Carr said he would retire if traded.
When Watson was at Clemson, I thought he was a high character guy. With his off field issues and him wanting to play GM without having accomplished anything in the NFL, I don’t think I’d trade for him. He is definitely an upgrade over Mayfield but not worth the headache year in and year out. Maybe if he accomplished what Brady and Rodgers have, I’d give him a say in personnel decisions or at least input
Baker is lucky he’s even a starting QB.
Apparently Bruce Ariens doesn’t agree with you.
How do you figure he’s lucky? I’m not going to sit here and try to claim he’s the best in the league, but he’s a good QB. His two bad years he had an injury and Freddie Kitchens as a coach, so they’re plenty understandable.
Would love to see him in Tampa if Cleveland moves on from him. Curious to see how he performs when he’s healthy again.
And I think we can agree that Arians is a much better offensive guy than Stefanski.
No
Me too ! Run !!!!
Given how QB thirsty teams are right now, unless Baker is a health risk, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Browns move him even in spite of the shallow draft.
It doesn’t make much sense, but if the market is that weak, they might surprise us ahead of his final year.
Annnnd Brady’s back lol
Interesting how meaningless this story became just after posted. Brady probably thought….”NO!! Not Mayfield!”