The Cleveland Browns and QB Baker Mayfield may not get resolution to their separation until after the NFL draft. For teams like the Carolina Panthers and the Seattle Seahawks, the two teams that seem to still have a need for a starting level quarterback, waiting to acquire a veteran quarterback can help their leverage during the draft.
Mayfield’s value in the league has a lot of variables to it. His recovery from the shoulder injury that caused him to have a poor season in 2021 is one of them but far from the only one. He only has one year left on his rookie contract with a hefty salary attached to it, he tends to speak his mind openly (not always loved by NFL teams) and there are some concerns about locker room issues that led to Odell Beckham Jr.’s departure.
We have even heard that Jadeveon Clowney and Jarvis Landry were unlikely to return with Mayfield starting in Cleveland.
Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network held a conference call before the NFL draft. The call used to be led by Mike Mayock but Jeremiah took it over when Mayock was hired by the Las Vegas Raiders. During the call, Jeremiah has an interesting comment related to Mayfield.
“I can’t argue with that logic if they were going to try and go get Baker Mayfield, and when I stack Baker up with this class, especially if you’ve got to win games next year, I think I would lean towards Baker on that front,” he said when discussing the Panthers.
It was also noted that a general manager, specifically noted to not be Andrew Berry, believed Mayfield was the best option for Carolina as well.
In the end, opinions outside of a team, whether from an analyst like Jeremiah or a GM of a different team, are mostly meaningless. What matters most is what the Panthers, Seahawks and any other team thinking of trading for Mayfield think.
Is Mayfield better than any of the quarterback prospects? It is possible. The shoulder, contract and locker room concerns still linger as possible hindrances to a trade.
