The Cleveland Browns have very little certainty at the most important position in the NFL: Quarterback. The most certain thing is that Jacoby Brissett will at least be the team’s backup quarterback when healthy and Josh Dobbs has a chance to make the roster or practice squad.
After that, Deshaun Watson could be disciplined this season for long-standing allegations and Baker Mayfield seems destined for another destination. The length of a suspension for Watson and where/how Mayfield ends up somewhere else are still to be decided.
With the Browns voluntary OTAs starting on Tuesday, there was very little question about whether either quarterback would show up. Watson just led his offense on a trip to the Bahamas and will likely attend while no one expected Mayfield to be there.
Now we have the official report that the team’s former top overall pick will not attend:
Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield will not be attending the Browns’ voluntary OTA’s that open Tuesday, as expected.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 23, 2022
Where things could get interesting is when mandatory minicamp starts on June 14th. As a mandatory activity, Cleveland could fine Mayfield for missing those three days in June but neither side seems that interested in him being in attendance. Instead, both the team and the player can agree that he will stay away and not get fined.
Mayfield and the Browns lack resolution, despite one insider believing he could start for them during a Watson suspension, but Mayfield will continue to stay away at this time.
