CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns are not looking for Baker Mayfield in the first round, but are actively trying to trade him as soon as possible, league sources say.
Mayfield’s market shrunk this week when its first pick, the Colts, was traded for four-time pro bowler Matt Ryan. Shortly thereafter, the Saints re-signed Jameis Winston and the Falcons signed free agent Marcus Mariota, who were selected No. 1 and No. 2 in the 2015 draft, respectively.
The Colts spoke to the Browns about Mayfield, but did not become actively involved in trade negotiations and instead focused on pursuing 36-year-old Ryan.
The Panthers are believed to be uninterested, at least at Mayfield’s current price, and could pick the best college candidate with their sixth overall pick. They did their work on Liberty’s Malik Willis, Pitt’s Kenny Pickett and more.
Sources said the Seahawks were interested in Mayfield and might be interested in a better price. But they also love Drew Lock, whom they acquired in a trade with the Broncos for Russell Wilson.
But right now, Mayfield has very few options, so the Browns aren’t looking for a first-round pick to offset one of the three they sent to the Texans in exchange for Deshawn Watson. At this point, it’s unrealistic to expect them to get such a high selection. They would have taken less, but they also know it can be difficult for the team to take on Mayfield’s $18.86 million guaranteed salary unless he is their absolute starter.
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The Browns do not plan to pay part of Mayfield’s salary.
Unlike what the Panthers did last season with Teddy Bridgewater, the Browns have no plans to give Mayfield a pay cut to facilitate the trade. The Panthers paid off Bridgewater’s $7 million bill when they traded him to the Broncos last year, along with a guaranteed $10 million they already owed him. On the other hand, the Broncos only paid him $3 million.
If the Mayfield camp can find a suitable trading partner for Mayfield, they will need to draft a contract in such a way that the Browns do not have to pay freight. This can be achieved by converting some or all of the salary into a signing bonus and spreading it out over a couple of years.
When the Browns informed Mayfield’s NFL Combine camp that they would only actively pursue an elite quarterback such as Deshawn Watson or Russell Wilson, they agreed to try and trade Mayfield for a team of his choice. He didn’t name Texans, panthers, lions, and others among his preferred landing sites, but he may not have much of a choice at this point.
Of course, the Lions have former Browns general manager John Dorsey as a senior personnel manager, and every NFL player should have someone who thinks as highly of them as Dorsey of the Mayfield he chose. No. 1 overall in 2018. .
It’s unknown if the Lions, who have Jared Goff as a starter, will be interested in Mayfield, but it might not be the worst place for him if they’re interested.
Browns don’t want to keep Mayfield from leaving until QB gets hurt
With Mayfield’s divorce getting messy in recent days, including his trade request and the Browns’ subsequent rejection, the club doesn’t want to keep him in the roster until the starting quarterback is seriously injured and needs a new player.
It may end up like this in the end, but the Browns hope to trade him as soon as possible and end the Mayfield era. It is better for him and for Mayfield that both sides move forward as soon as possible and end this. One possible stumbling block is that Mayfield is recovering from surgery to repair a torn upper lip in his left shoulder that did not cause a blowout, and may not necessarily have a physical right now.
While a guaranteed starting job could be Mayfield’s best if anyone leaves, the Browns would like to give him a chance to start over now if possible. If he stays here any longer, he won’t be here to participate in the off-season program or mini-camp.
The Browns’ senior management will be attending the NFL Annual Meeting Sunday through Wednesday in Palm Beach, Florida, and will likely try to make a deal there if it doesn’t happen sooner.
Mayfield’s Trade Request Didn’t Lead to Deshawn Watson Deal
While Mayfield’s request for a trade and his intention of not playing for them in 2022 seemed to have them back to Watson at full strength, that was not the case, league sources said.
The Browns kept in touch with Watson’s camp and never completely pulled out, even after Watson called them on Thursday and said they were out. Watson, who really enjoyed the Browns’ presentation, was hesitant to eliminate the Browns, and in fact it was his camp that eventually revived the deal.
The Browns were as shocked as everyone else when Watson changed the pitch and favored the Browns over the Saints, Falcons and Panthers.
Of course, a five-year NFL record of $230 million with a fully guaranteed contract spoke volumes and helped ease Watson’s fears of becoming a northerner and playing in inclement weather.
When Watson told the Browns they were out of the loop, they again told Mayfield that he would be their man for 2022. If he hadn’t asked for the exchange, they would have had to break the bad news.
Where did the additional 4th round pick come from?
When the terms of the Watson trade deal hit the transaction posting on Tuesday, they included six picks from the Browns instead of five – an additional 2022 fourth-round pick that was apparently added at the last minute – and a sixth-round pick in 2024. . returning from the Texans instead of the fifth.
But the Browns didn’t sweeten the deal at the last minute, sources say. The trade compensation included that additional fourth round where the deal was agreed on Friday, but it all happened so quickly that it was initially misreported in the media.
Initially, the terms of the trade were: The Browns forfeit three first round picks in 2022, 2023 and 2024 plus a third round pick in 2023 and a fourth round pick in 2024 in exchange for Watson and a fifth round pick in 2024 year.
The actual terms of the trade are as follows: The Browns are giving away three first-round picks, a third-round pick in 2023, and fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024. They bring back Watson and a sixth-round pick in 2024.
The new terms leave the Browns with four picks in the first four rounds instead of five: one in the second, two in the third, and one in the fourth.
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