When it was announced that Baker Mayfield had been let go by the Panthers yesterday, the most logical destination for him seemed to be the 49ers. The NFC West leaders have pushed back against the notion that they are interested in adding him, however, which could lead to a team higher in the waiver priority putting in a claim. 
[RELATED: 49ers Not Expecting To Add Mayfield?]
The Texans, by virtue of having the league’s worst record, sit atop that list. They have already taken advantage of that by claiming running back Eno Benjamin and wide receiver Amari Rodgers earlier in the year. In the case of Mayfield, though, a repeat of those moves does not seem to be forthcoming.
It is considered “extremely unlikely” that Houston will add the former No. 1 overall pick, reports Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. The Texans have had issues at the quarterback position throughout the season, but head coach Lovie Smith indicated that the team’s focus will be on deciding the starter moving forward from amongst their in-house options.
“Everybody that’s available we look at,” he said when asked about the potential of claiming Mayfield. “We see if they fit. We’re constantly trying to improve our roster, so if there’s anybody that’s out there, that’s what we do. Don’t know enough about Baker or anything like that. We’re trying to get better play from the guys we have on our current roster.”
2021 third-rounder Davis Mills started each of the team’s first 10 contests this season, but he has taken a significant step back statistically compared to the promise he showed as a rookie. That has led to the widespread expectation that they will select a quarterback in the first round of the upcoming draft, but his struggles also prompted a short-term move when Kyle Allen was named the starter two weeks ago.
The former UDFA has thrown four interceptions in his two starts, however, leaving the Texans with a murky situation regarding their signal-callers for the remainder of the season. Smith declined to state publicly who will be under center for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys, but Wilson reports that the team is “seriously contemplating” going back to Mills.
With Houston set to play out the string in 2022, they seem unlikely to give Mayfield, a pending free agent, the opportunity to compete for playing time in the waning weeks of the season. Such an opportunity could still come elsewhere later today in the event he is claimed.
They should
I know Baker will latch on somewhere, but I just don’t see much from him. He’ll always have the Heisman ads for cash.
Once he passes through waivers and becomes cheaper, he’ll get some calls pretty quickly. Quite a few teams wouldn’t be doing due diligence if they weren’t seriously thinking about adding him.
I don’t buy that the 49ers aren’t interested. They can’t afford to claim him off waivers, so it makes sense they’d downplay the idea right now. Does anyone really believe a team with championship aspirations is going to move forward with Mr. Irrelevant under center though for the playoffs?
I’m thinking the Colts myself, but I agree with your take completely.
I could see the Colts as a great fit, too. I think they’d need to claim him, however- and I don’t know what their cap looks like. Given the option, I don’t think that’d be Baker’s first choice.
Nick Caserio is closing in on two years in the GM job, and the team still has absolutely no identity. They’re on their second placeholder head coach in two seasons. They essentially have no star level talent at all unless you count Tunsil, Cooks, and Stingley–a top salaried lineman anchoring a mediocre line, a 29 year old receiver who wants out, and a talented CB who hasn’t been good yet and needs to stay healthy.
All of which is to say that pretty much the only thing that matters right now is that the Texans have the top pick in a draft with QBs, and they need it. Caserio was dealt a tough situation with Watson, and ended up trading out of it well, but reshuffling veteran discards on this team ain’t gonna help what ails them. Might as well play Mills to evaluate him as a future backup or just get him seasoning. There’s no point in adding a veteran QB to this team.
Well said. The true problem starts with ownership. Cal McNair is in way over his head. The only good thing he has done was to finally fire Jack Easterby. He’s been obsessed with becoming the Patriots but clearly the post-Brady Patriots isn’t really something that should be idolized.
Why would they?? They stink and he’s not going to help them much. All he could do is get them a worse draft pick
I think it would be a waste to draft a quarterback next year with all the holes on this team. I would trade the first pick just so I could have a stronger foundation. You’ll stink next year also, so get the quarterback in 2024.
This.
As bad as that team is, I think any young QB they take will be doomed to fail. I’d be looking at moves I could make to stockpile more draft picks. They need as much talent as they can acquire. I also think the ’24 QB class looks like it’ll be better, but that’s just me.
Baker must have one hell of a reputation for bottom dwellers to pass on his services.
Not saying Baker is any good but the Texans are currently in 1st place… for the number 1 draft pick, why would they risk rocking the boat by bringing in a QB who might be a tiny bit better than their current scrub QBs. Still think he’ll wind up in San Fran, even if they’re comfortable with Purdy, Baker would be the best backup QB available and with their luck they’ll need a backup or two.
They took a flyer on Mills and it didn’t work out. No shame in that. No sense in trying to pretend Mills is something he will never be. Time to set their sights on a 2023 draft franchise QB.