Unknowns are the biggest story surrounding the Cleveland Browns with the NFL draft now in the rearview mirror. While we know when everything but training camp will take place for the team, at least three major unknowns will dominate the storylines until there are resolutions:
- Will Deshaun Watson get suspended this season? At all?
- Will Baker Mayfield get traded and when?
- Will Jadeveon Clowney return to solidify one of the biggest remaining needs on the team?
Jarvis Landry possibly returning could be added to the list as well.
Clowney’s future could be resolved sooner than later while Watson’s seems likely to be delayed. Mayfield was almost dealt to the Carolina Panthers during the draft but that fell through.
That leaves the Browns and their former starting quarterback in a difficult position. With the Panthers drafting Matt Corral quickly after not completing a deal for Mayfield, they seem out of the quarterback market leaving just the Seattle Seahawks seemingly in need of a quality starter.
According to their coach, Pete Carroll, he doesn’t see the team trading for a veteran QB at this time:
“I’m not saying anything you didn’t think I was going to say, but fortunately that’s always been the way we’ve operated, and it fits again. So we’re looking. I don’t see us making a trade for anybody at all. I don’t see that happening. But we’re certainly going to continue to be open to chances to help our club, and meanwhile we’re just going to be battling and competing our tails off. There’s always possibilities, so we keep open to that.”
If Carolina and Seattle are out, there is no clear landing spot for Cleveland’s former top overall pick. Waiting for an injury is the likely direction but quarterbacks are overly protected throughout the offseason that it seems unlikely to occur anytime soon.
It is interesting that Carroll said this around the same time as a report on some of the many issues in the Browns locker room.
As it has been for both sides, the waiting game continues. Mayfield could force the team’s hand by showing up for offseason programs but the team seems hesitant to give him his outright release.
A big unknown, now with one less suitor, it seems. Which of the three unknowns gets resolved first? Last?
