CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns have said they are not in the Deshawn Watson draw, a league source told cleveland.com.
The Browns now have to decide whether to trade Baker Mayfield or not, and they may try to trade other quarterbacks like Raiders’ Derek Carr and Falcons’ Matt Ryan.
Carr was on their radar all offseason. About two weeks ago, the Browns weren’t looking for 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who recently had shoulder surgery and won’t be able to throw until July, but that could change now that the quarterback market has shrunk. Garoppolo would also be easier to acquire than Carr and some others.
The Browns dropped out of Watson’s race around 11 a.m. Thursday when the three-time pro bowler narrowed his selection to the Saints and Falcons. The Panthers also met with him.
Based on what appeared to be a farewell letter from Mayfield to Cleveland fans Tuesday night and numerous conversations with sources, Mayfield and his team are likely to ask for a trade if the Browns don’t offer the opportunity first.
The fact that the Browns courted Watson publicly and supposedly made a blockbuster offer, including possibly three first-round picks, did not sit well with Mayfield and his camp, and they will likely look for greener pastures. Mayfield has some better options for a new landing spot – the Colts top the list – and the Browns will try to help him be as happy as they can, if it comes to that, a league source said.
There’s still a chance Mayfield will return as a starter, but one source told cleveland.com the chances are slim. The Browns are believed to be doing well with Mayfield rebuilding his surgically reconstructed left shoulder.
But Mayfield may need a change of scenery and speed things up. If he doesn’t — or if the Browns refuse to honor his request — he’ll have to go back and do what Garoppolo did last year after the 49ers traded for draft pick Trey Lance. Garoppolo put his head down, got to work and led the 49ers to the NFC championship.
If the Browns can assuage Mayfield’s grudge, he can return healthy with a modernized host corps – already bolstered by a trade for four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper – and try to get the Browns back in the playoffs.
If the Browns agree to move Mayfield, they will consider trading Carr, Ryan and others. Carr ticks all the boxes, but it might be hard to tear him away from the Raiders and their new coach Josh McDaniels, who told the NFL Combine that Carr is “absolutely” his starting lineup for 2022.
But until his new extension is signed with the Raiders, everything is settled for Carr, who is entering the final year of his $19.87 million contract. According to cleveland.com, the Colts could also put aggressive pressure on Carr. But the Browns had scrutinized Carr during the offseason and were intrigued by him. Likewise, Carr would have been interested in playing for the Browns had he not made a deal with Las Vegas.
Ryan, 36, is another chance for the Browns if Mayfield leaves.
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