Baker Mayfield’s tumultuous 2021 season has created an even crazier offseason for the Browns quarterback.
Relations between Cleveland and the quarterback have been strained since Cleveland began pursuing Deshaun Watson. In a recent ESPN story, the organization chose to head a different direction due to Mayfield’s 2021 struggles. Because of the Browns’ courting of the former Texans quarterback, Mayfield requested a trade, though Cleveland said it was not willing to accommodate his request. The Browns eventually signed Watson on a five-year, $230 million deal, presumably taking Mayfield’s place as starting quarterback. Mayfield did not show up to April’s voluntary workouts.
As he continues to await where his future will take him, ESPN reports that sources close to Mayfield questioned the Browns play calling at the end of the season and wondered at the time if the organization set the quarterback up to “look as hapless as possible in prime time” to prove why they would need a change in the offseason.
