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In a podcast interview that debuted Wednesday, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield called Seattle the “most likely option” or his next target. That’s assuming the Seahawks want him.
If yes, how will they get it?
The Browns are stuck. You owe Mayfield $18.8 million for 2022, fully guaranteed. If they can’t find a trade partner, they have the choice of keeping them on the list for the entire season (awkward) or removing them. If they cut him, he can sign with either team for the minimum salary of $1.035 million – with the Browns covering the rest.
The Seahawks, if they want Mayfield, know the Browns are stuck. The Seahawks can tell the Browns that Seattle will only pay $1.035 million, the Browns will pay the rest, and the Browns must give the Seahawks a low round pick to complete the transaction.
Sure, the Browns could just scrap Mayfield and sign him with Seattle for $1.035 million. But the Browns (and the Seahawks) would then take the risk that the Steelers would intervene.
Yes, the Steelers. Mayfield would certainly relish the opportunity to keep it with the Browns by playing for a bitter rival. He’d be better than Mitchell Trubisky or Mason Rudolph, and trainer Mike Tomlin could potentially push Mayfield into becoming the best version of himself he can be.
Check out what Tomlin did with players like Antonio Brown. For years, Tomlin kept Brown’s unique personality in check. Ditto for Ben Roethlisberger, whose heel-to-hero transformation happened under Tomlin’s guard.
It makes too much sense for the team and for the player. Because of this, the Browns must find a solution that will result in Mayfield ending up in a different division in a different conference. This is where the Seahawks can press Cleveland and wait for a deal that isn’t designed to create value for Mayfield, but to ensure the Browns don’t have to deal with him in the AFC North in 2022 or beyond.
Back to Seattle. The other benefit of the Blink is that the Seahawks would now get Mayfield. He would be part of the offseason program. He would be fully prepared to play in 2022, and to play well. But what would the blinking entail? How much would the Seahawks give up now for a player they can get later if they’re patient?
Regardless of when the deal goes through, it won’t be easy for the Seahawks and Browns to find a middle ground. Especially when the Seahawks are the only team wanting to trade for Mayfield and want to be traded to Mayfield.
Whatever happens, the Browns won’t have much of a return for Mayfield. You’ve already replaced him. You have moved on. He keeps going. And the deal the Browns will make to plan that next move won’t be anywhere near what it would have been if the Browns tried, say, a year ago.