Big problems for the Cleveland Browns over Baker Mayfield
It looks like Baker Mayfield’s time with the Cleveland Browns is coming to an end. And it’s turning into an ugly breakup.
It’s emerged that the former No.1 overall pick from 2018 has demanded a trade away from the team who seem to be in the market for a quarterback.
The Browns met with wantaway Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson earlier this week.
This would never have happened if they were not prepared to move on from Mayfield.
After being told they wouldn’t be signing Watson, the Browns have tried to put convince their current starter to stay.
But Mayfield is insistent on not wanting to be the Plan B in Cleveland.
It could be a difficult few weeks for both parties, but it’s one the Browns have absolutely brought on themselves.
Where do the Browns go from here?
The manner of which the Browns met with Watson has ultimately backed the team into a corner with its current quarterback, which they will now struggle to get out of.
Clearly, Watson (on the field) represents an upgrade on Mayfield. But now he’s ruled out a move to Cleveland, there options are limited.
The Browns may have insisted that Mayfield won’t be allowed to leave, but surely there is no going back now.
The way Cleveland responded to his trade request by completely denying it was also unusual. And this makes them look a lot weaker.
If they do fail to convince Mayfield, the Browns could make an attempt to trade him for another quarterback.
Matt Ryan’s tenure in Atlanta seems to be coming to an end and both former number one picks could swap cities if the Falcons fail to acquire Watson.
Elsewhere, going after someone like Jimmy Garoppolo or selecting a quarterback in the draft might not present anything of a step up at all.
But it’s in the interest of both Mayfield and the Browns to move on.
Baker Mayfield needs to improve, but even he deserves better than this
No question, 2022 was undoubtedly a disappointment for the former Oklahoma Sooner.
A shoulder injury, which he’s already had surgery on this offseason, had a dramatic impact on his accuracy and overall performance.
Infact, in the game before he suffered a torn labrum against the Houston Texans in Week 2, Mayfield started brightly with a stellar in the first game against the Kansas City Chiefs, scoring touchdowns on their opening three possessions.
Mayfield went from having an 82% pass completion rate in the opening two games (the best in the NFL at that point), to 59.5% following his injury (fourth worst in the league).
It’s clear his injury had a severe impact on his game, but Mayfield doesn’t get the plaudits he deserves for his time in Cleveland.
Of course, he isn’t currently a top-10 quarterback. But he’s still 26, had shown signs on consistent improvement season on season before 2021 and can be a successful start in the NFL.
This is a player who just a year ago, led the Browns to their first playoff victory since 1995. They were a 4th down stop away from beating the Kansas City Chiefs and reaching the AFC Championship.
It’s not like Mayfield has been the only problem.
The adversity of Odell Beckham Jr’s situation in Cleveland put strain on Mayfield in the locker room too.
They haven’t had a true number one receiver until Amari Cooper’s signing; Donovan Peoples-Jones led with just 597 receiving yards in 2021 and Jarvis Landry had only one touchdown all season.
Their offensive line wasn’t near enough as prepared as in 2020 and the secondary is not as productive as it should be. Clearly this roster, which has huge talent, still needs a lot of work in order to succeed.
Baker Mayfield had a sack rate of 9% last year, which is the same as Joe Burrow. In the penultimate game of the 2021 regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mayfield was sacked nine times and had five passes batted away at the line.
Obviously he plays a part in this, but with guards like Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller and former first-team All-Pro Jack Conklin at left tackle, the Browns should have some of the best quarterback protectors in the league.
These are areas which need to massively improve in 2022.
End of an era
The Browns have returned to happier times after the dismay of the mid-2010s.
But they need to end this saga quickly and move on.
Mayfield has a point to prove and I’m sure he’ll be excited about a new challenge for a new franchise.
It’s a sad breakup, but this needs to happen.
