Baker Mayfield’s future is looking murkier than ever after the conclusion of the 2022 NFL Draft and no movement involved him getting off the Browns roster.
The Browns know Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, is owed $18.858 million for 2022. They also know none of the teams that would love to him will agree to pay any of that salary knowing the team will likely just cut him from the roster.
If that happens, an NFC West team could get involved.
“Now, here’s the deal: The Browns are willing to play some of Baker Mayfield’s $18.8 million guaranteed, but not all of it,” ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler said Sunday.
“Teams are waiting that out, slow-playing it and they don’t really want to pay much of that money at all. I know some teams like Seattle, if he’s released, they would explore it, potentially get involved. Right now, this could drag out. I talked to one GM in the league who said, ‘They should hold onto him because quarterback situations around the league change. Maybe injuries happen.”
The Carolina Panthers were apparently deep in trade talks with the Browns to trade for Baker during the draft, but the talks fell apart and the Panthers took Ole Miss’ Matt Corral in the third round on Friday night.
The Atlanta Falcons were another rumored landing spot, but they ended up with Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder. Seattle seems to be the last team standing without a plan at QB unless they think Drew Lock is the answer.
The Browns think they have leverage, but they are losing more and more by the day.
