Baker Mayfield, selected first overall in the 2018 NFL draft out of Oklahoma by the Cleveland Browns, finds himself in a fascinating limbo right now. When his NFL team went YOLO in all the worst possible ways and traded for Deshaun Watson, the “win above all else” mentality left Mayfield in the lurch. That trade happened almost a month ago, and there’s Mayfield with no real NFL future in his current location. Unless the Browns are anticipating a lengthy Watson suspension in 2022, and would have Mayfield as the starter through that process, it seems a bit unfair to hold onto him when he could benefit another team. Espeically after he played through several injuries in 2021.
Not that we should feel sorry for Mayfield from a financial perspective. The Browns picked up his fifth-year option, which gives him $18.858 million guaranteed for 2022, and that happens no matter what. It’s also possible that teams are waiting for the Browns to cut Mayfield, so they won’t have to give up any trade capital for a guy who is on the outs with his current team.
Wednesday on the Ya Neva Know podcast, Mayfield made it clear that he feels disrespected by the organization.
