Getty Images
The man who was actually replaced by Deshawn Watson wanted to be traded to the Colts. Instead, the Colts traded for a man that Watson nearly ousted.
To the extent some feel Baker Mayfield needed to be humbled, losing his top pick to an aging player who came into the league when Mayfield was just 13 may have done the trick.
So where does Mayfield turn? The Seahawks continue to be an intriguing option. They may be the only viable option.
The Texans don’t need it; otherwise, it would be stuffed into a Watson trade bag. (On the other hand, if the Browns go into Mayfield sell-off mode, perhaps the price will become more attractive to Houston.) The Panthers have a failed top-five quarterback since the 2018 draft in Sam Darnold; they are looking for a major upgrade, not just another temporary placeholder.
Saints might be in the game. Jameis Winston’s new contract seems to suggest otherwise. (The final structure of the Winston deal may suggest otherwise.)
Then there are the Lions. This is the best choice in my opinion. Mayfield is the epitome of the kneecap-biting stance coach Dan Campbell is trying to instill, a tough, likeable (for the most part) punk that is equal parts Rick Mahorn and Marshall Mathers.
Baker Mayfield vs Jared Goff is a no-brainer fight. Mayfield is the right guy for the Lions right now. John Dorsey, who drafted Mayfield in Cleveland and is currently in Detroit, has to team up to walk the building, trying to reach a consensus that they should go after Mayfield.
This may not be very expensive. The Browns want to get rid of their $18.8 million guaranteed salary. Maybe they’ll pay some of it. Or maybe they’ll take peanuts to throw it all away.
Regardless, the disappearance of the Colts as Mayfield’s landing point will make it harder to find. And the fact that the Colts picked Matt Ryan over Mayfield might be a bucket of ice water that will force Mayfield into some introspection that will help him move his crossroads career in the right direction.