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The Panthers and Browns tried to find a place for Baker Mayfield to land. They were reportedly unable to reach an agreement on how to split his $18.8 million base salary, prompting the Panthers to turn their attention to Matt Corral.
What’s next for Mayfield?
The Panthers and Falcons drafted quarterbacks. The Seahawks don’t. Other teams looking were the Lions and Saints.
Seattle seems like the obvious place to go, but they’ve done nothing to indicate an interest in Mayfield. Maybe they’re doing it now, as Cleveland’s options may dry up and their expectations may change.
Carolina would have made a lot of sense to Mayfield, maybe enough to get him to even take part of his salary to secure the opportunity to go to a new city and have the kind of year that is required to lay the groundwork for a treaty in 2023. Now he has to keep waiting. Just like the Browns.
The best news for Cleveland is that Pittsburgh’s decision to draft Kenny Pickett means the worst-case scenario for the Browns — cutting Mayfield and taking him straight to the Steelers — most likely won’t materialize. The bad news is the Browns may not get a better opportunity than the one they had tonight.
So what are they doing? Waiting for an injury that is unlikely to happen? reduce your expectations?
And what will Mayfield do? He was patient and docile. Eventually his less patient and forgiving nature will take over.
For Cleveland, it’s all a sunk price. They placed their $230 million bet on Deshaun Watson, who arrived with 22 distractions that still stand. Mayfield continues to be another distraction the Browns just don’t need.
Unlike a freshman who can sit for a year or two, Mayfield has a one-year contract. Those who get it through trade must be ready to play it now. That leaves the Seahawks as the best option at this point. The Saints are a possibility if Jameis Winston doesn’t like them as much as they let on.
Wherever it goes, Mayfield cannot be satisfied with how it went. Yes, he’s getting $18.8 million this year no matter what. But will he have a chance to make 2022 a much bigger payday in 2023? To do that, he has to be able to play. Unless the Lions are ready to kick Jared Goff to the curb (or, say, the Texans decide Davis Mills isn’t really the answer, or the Giants decide to move on now instead of Daniel Jones later), Mayfield is stuck . And the Browns are stuck.
It’s a headache the player doesn’t want and the Browns don’t need.