Baker Mayfield - Pro Football Rumors

Baker Mayfield Targeting Colts In Trade; Seahawks Eyeing QB

March 18th, 2022 at 5:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

After the Browns ended Baker Mayfield‘s four-year tenure as their starter by trading for Deshaun Watson, the former No. 1 overall pick figures to be an option for another team in need of a QB1. Mayfield has his eye on another AFC team.

Mayfield would prefer to be traded to the Colts, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports (on Twitter), and has informed the Browns of his ideal destination. One season remains on Mayfield’s contract, with the Browns having picked up his fully guaranteed fifth-year option — worth $18.9MM — last year. The Colts have shown interest in Mayfield, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets, but no notable discussions have occurred yet.

The Colts make sense as a Mayfield destination. They ditched Carson Wentz after one season and do not have a first-round pick, which the team sent to Philadelphia in the Wentz deal. Prior to Mayfield requesting a trade Thursday, the Browns were willing to work with their now-former starting quarterback in a trade. However, they were not prepared to accommodate his trade request Thursday. Of course, that was before Cleveland came in with a market-reshaping offer for Watson. Mayfield is now expected to be moved. His lack of a no-trade clause could prompt the Browns to move him to an NFC team, so it will be interesting to see how the team treats its longtime starter on the way out.

Indianapolis could easily fit Mayfield’s salary onto its payroll; the team created plenty of cap space by unloading Wentz. The Colts lead the NFL in cap space, at nearly $40MM, and have a glaring need at quarterback. Mayfield would obviously be an upgrade over anyone presently on the Colts. The Colts have a playoff-caliber roster, which features NFL rushing champion Jonathan Taylor. Though the team needs pass-catching help, Mayfield is undoubtedly intrigued by the talent in Indy.

The Seahawks lurk here as well. They emerged as a possibility for Mayfield earlier this week, and USA Today’s Josina Anderson tweets they have inquired on both Mayfield and Matt Ryan. Seattle would prefer an experienced QB, Anderson adds. While Pete Carroll indicated the Seahawks were fans of Drew Lock as a prospect, he bounced in and out of the Broncos’ starting lineup during a rocky three-year tenure. Ryan’s contract remains onerous for the Falcons to trade, and without Watson in the picture, Atlanta greenlighting a 15th season with Ryan would make sense financially.

Browns’ Baker Mayfield Requests Trade

March 17th, 2022 at 2:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Baker Mayfield wants out. On Thursday afternoon, the quarterback formally asked the Browns to trade him (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). For now, the Browns say that they will not accommodate his request (Twitter link via Jake Trotter of ESPN.com).

For what it’s worth, there is a difference between a trade request and a trade demand. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) hears that it’s the former, which may mean that a resolution is still possible.

The Browns’ pursuit of Deshaun Watson irked Mayfield, who was hoping to get back to his old form for Cleveland following shoulder rehab. The Browns offered to fly to Texas, meet with Mayfield, and talk things out. The quarterback has told them not to bother. Now, the Browns are out of the Watson sweepstakes and might not have Mayfield to fall back on.

Mayfield still has another year on his contract at a salary of $18.86MM. Given where the QB market is right now, that might be an appealing proposition for the Colts — a preferred destination for Mayfield.

Mayfield, 27 in April, finished 2021 with a 60.5% completion rate, 3,010 passing yards and 17 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. That’s a dramatic step back from his 2020 stats — 3,563 yards, 26 TDs, and eight INTs with a 62.8% success rate.

The Browns regressed on the whole in 2021, compiling an 8-9 record and failing to make it back to the playoffs. However, it’s hard to judge Mayfield on an individual level, given the torn labrum on his non-throwing side. The QB finished near the bottom of the league in of QBR, but he was top ten league-wide just one year prior. That 2020 campaign resulted in a divisional round appearance and what looked to be the start of something special.

More to come..

Browns Out Of Contention For Deshaun Watson

March 17th, 2022 at 11:00am CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns are no longer in the running to land Deshaun Watson. The team has been informed Watson will not waive his no-trade clause to facilitate a move there, leaving Baker Mayfield as the team’s projected starting quarterback (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network).

Nate Ulrich of The Akron Beacon Journal notes that the team’s owners, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, “authorized a massive trade offer” for Watson. While that won’t take place now, since he isn’t interested in coming to Cleveland, it further demonstrates the team’s willingness to pursue an upgrade over Mayfield.

It came out earlier this week that the former No. 1 overall pick wouldn’t be part of the trade package the Texans would be receiving for Watson, if the Browns had won the bidding war to acquire him. Mayfield made it clear his preference would not be to end up Houston, but this whole process has led many to expect he will be playing somewhere other than Cleveland next season.

Mayfield, who will be 27 by the start of next year, has publicly acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his future with the Browns. However, as Garafolo notes, the team informed him they would only search for “top-tier” signal callers to take his place. With Watson no longer available, keeping the former Heisman winner at a cost of $18.8MM is “still very much an option“.

As for Watson, the list of potential landing spots has been narrowed to three: New Orleans, Atlanta and Carolina. It was reported earlier today that the Saints have met with the three-time Pro Bowler for a second time, and have made the necessary salary cap moves to absorb his contract. At a minimum, this news makes it all-but certain Watson will be headed to the NFC South.

Mayfield, Browns Preparing To Part Ways?

March 16th, 2022 at 3:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Browns met with Deshaun Watson on Tuesday, and Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets the team did not inform Mayfield beforehand of its interest in the Texans quarterback. Mayfield then posted a tweet thanking Cleveland, creating an ominous tone for this relationship’s future.

Even if Watson does not end up in Cleveland, the Browns may be preparing to move on from Mayfield. The fifth-year quarterback and the Browns are “breaking up,” Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com said during a TV appearance Wednesday (h/t gifdsports; video link). Mayfield is expected to consider his options, with or without Watson in Cleveland, according to Russini (on Twitter). Mortensen also added the Browns want “an adult” at quarterback. That will surely go over well in what appears to be a divorce in progress.

The former No. 1 pick would be interested in the Colts or Seahawks, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com notes, adding the Browns are now open to trading their four-year starter. It is unclear if either team would reciprocate that interest, but Mayfield appears to be planning for a Cleveland exit. The Seahawks should be considered an option, per Mortensen, who mentions Jimmy Garoppolo as a possible solution for the Browns.

If Watson heads to one of the NFC destinations in play, the Browns would be making a move similar to the Colts’ Carson Wentz trade. Indianapolis currently lacks a viable QB option, ahead of a draft with limited options at the position. The Browns, at least, have their first-round pick in this draft. One year and $18.9MM remains on Mayfield’s rookie contract.

This would be an explosive conclusion to a rocky relationship. Mayfield nearly won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2018 but struggled mightily under Freddie Kitchens in 2019. After his 2020 bounce-back showing that led the Browns to the playoffs, the outspoken quarterback ran into multifront injury trouble — headlined by a significant shoulder malady, which required surgery in January — and saw his 2021 production crater as a result. Mayfield also became a flashpoint figure in the Odell Beckham Jr. drama. Still, the early offseason pointed to the Browns bringing back their quarterback for a redemption shot on his fifth-year option. Plans are changing fast.

Latest On Baker Mayfield’s Future With Browns

March 15th, 2022 at 4:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Deshaun Watson could potentially land in Cleveland, but that doesn’t mean Baker Mayfield would be sent to Houston. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Mayfield isn’t a part of the Browns’ trade offer to the Texans.

The Texans are focused on acquiring picks, including a handful of firsts. The Browns’ offer is presumably based on draft capital, and that’s fine with Mayfield…per Cabot, Houston “likely wouldn’t be his top choice for a landing spot.”

If the Browns do somehow acquire Watson, Mayfield would obviously be sent packing in a separate trade, and Cabot notes that the losers of the Watson sweepstakes could pivot to the former first-overall pick. In this hypothetical, the Panthers and Saints would be among the “losers,” and Cabot also mentions the Colts and Seahawks as potential suitors for Mayfield.

In fact, considering the optics of the Watson pursuit, Mayfield might find himself traded even if Cleveland doesn’t complete a deal with Houston. As Cabot writes, Mayfield “would undoubtedly find it awkward to return to Cleveland in 2022 and start for a team that took the Haslams private jet to Houston on Tuesday afternoon to woo his possible replacement.” Mayfield was also critical of Kevin Stefanski’s playcalling last season, and the QB famously hasn’t inked an extension. Mayfield’s future with the organization always seemed like it was on thin ice, but his exit from Cleveland could come sooner than expected.

There’s always a chance that the Browns don’t land Watson, and the organization and Mayfield kiss and make up. However, as Cabot notes, “the visit with Watson seems like a dealbreaker.”

Buccaneers Have Evaluated Browns QB Baker Mayfield

March 13th, 2022 at 8:17am CST by Rory Parks

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.

Browns Won’t Extend QB Baker Mayfield This Offseason

March 3rd, 2022 at 9:14pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like 2022 will be a prove-it year for Baker Mayfield. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns met with Mayfield’s representatives this week and agreed that the quarterback wouldn’t sign an extension this offseason. However, the Browns reiterated their commitment to Mayfield as their starting QB in 2022.

This means Mayfield will play out the 2022 season on his fully guaranteed, $18.8MM salary (via his fifth-year option). The 26-year-old would be a free agent next offseason.

2021 wasn’t a banner year for Mayfield (17 touchdowns vs. 13 interceptions), but he was clearly hampered by his injured shoulder. The former first-overall pick underwent surgery on a torn labrum in January, which will keep him sidelined until May or June. Fortunately, he’s expected to be good to go for training camp, and Mayfield will have an opportunity to prove that he’s truly the team’s QB of their future.

Mayfield and the Browns have had their ups and downs through his four years in Cleveland, and an underwhelming 2021 campaign (couple with a lack of substantial extension talks) have led some to question the Browns commitment to their QB. Despite the rumblings, we learned last month that the Browns will planning to retain Mayfield for the 2022 campaign.

Mayfield, Wide Receivers Central To Browns’ Offseason Plans

January 25th, 2022 at 12:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Especially if he is able to be fully healthy at the start of next year, Baker Mayfield will play a large role in determining if the Browns can rebound from a disappointing 2021 season. Even if that’s the case, though, the team could still look very different by that time.

Both head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry have expressed confidence in Mayfield: “It’s easy to forget… what we’ve seen with Baker over the past several years. Obviously he had his most productive season in this offense under [Stefanski in 2020]” Berry said recently. That’s one of the reasons ESPN’s Jake Trotter writes that bringing Mayfield back on his fifth year option “seems to be the most likely outcome”, another being the lack of realistic trade targets. With that said, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal adds that “acquiring someone to push” Mayfield, such as Mitchell Trubisky or Marcus Mariota, is a strong possibility as well. Mayfield will have a price tag of just under $19MM in 2022.

Meanwhile, the wide receiver position is setting up to be an area of focus. With veteran Jarvis Landry in danger of being a cap casualty – he has no guaranteed money left on his deal, leaving Trotter to write that it “feels like he has played his last snap with the Browns” – rebuilding the pass-catching corps is sure to be a priority. While the Browns should have the cap space to target at least one experienced wideout, there is a growing sense of expectation they will use the draft as a means of acquiring a true No. 1. Mel Kiper’s first mock draft has Cleveland taking Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson, while Dane Brugler projects them taking Treylon Burks from Arkansas.

The two reporters are also in synch when it comes to the team’s defensive needs. Defensive tackle in particular looks to be a key area of focus, given the pending unrestricted free agency of 32-year-old Malik Jackson and the recent arrest of Malik McDowell. Trotter adds that edge rusher could also be a need, depending on what happens with Jadeveon Clowney in free agency. Just like receiver, the defensive front figures to see a significant overhaul in the coming months.

For a team that generated so many expectations heading into the 2021 season, the Browns clearly face a number of key roster decisions heading into the offseason to be able to meet them in the future.

Latest On Browns QB Baker Mayfield

January 19th, 2022 at 7:29pm CST by Ben Levine

Baker Mayfield underwent successful surgery today on his torn labrum, the Browns announced. The QB is expected to make a full recovery in four to six months.

“We’ll check that box off to get this fixed, and now it’s onto the road to recovery,” Mayfield said in an Instagram post. “It’s not going to be an easy one, but it’s going to be one that I remember, and it’s going to be a special one. I’ll keep you guys updated. Thank you so much. This is not the end of my story. It’s going to be one of those things where I look back and remember one of those challenges and adversity that I’ll try to take advantage of, and it’ll make me a better person.”

The four-to-six-month timeline means Mayfield could be good to go at any point between May and July, but fortunately for Mayfield, the torn labrum was in his non-throwing shoulder. As a result, the team expects the 26-year-old to begin throwing in April, and he’s expected to participate in the offseason program on a limited basis. He’s expected to be fully recovered by the time training camp starts.

2021 wasn’t a banner year for Mayfield (17 touchdowns vs. 13 interceptions), but he was clearly hampered by his injured shoulder. The Browns still haven’t inked the former first-overall pick to a contract extension, leading some to question his future in Cleveland. However, a recent report indicated that the Browns are planning to have Mayfield under center when they open the 2022 campaign.

Browns Plan To Keep Baker Mayfield

January 9th, 2022 at 2:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns plan to move forward with Baker Mayfield as their quarterback in 2022, according to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. There’s been talk of both sides wanting to move on, but the expectation is that Mayfield will remain under center in Cleveland.

This hasn’t been a banner year for Mayfield, but he was clearly hampered by his injured shoulder. Hopefully, that’ll all be in order following his surgery, scheduling for later this week. For now, he’ll be watching from a distance as the Browns wrap their season against the Bengals.

Mayfield finished tenth leaguewide in QBR last year. This season, he’s towards the backend of the list, but the Browns believe there will be better days ahead. As it stands, they have Mayfield under contract for one more season, thanks to his fully-guaranteed $18.9MM fifth-year option. As expected, they’ll table extension talks until sometime in the future, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweets.

Mayfield, 27 in April, will finish with a 60.5% completion rate, 3,010 passing yards and 17 touchdowns against 13 interceptions this year. That’s a dramatic step back from his 2020 stats — 3,563 yards, 26 TDs, and eight INTs with a 62.8% success rate.