The Cleveland Browns are apparently interested in trading Baker Mayfield, but it looks like they might need to adjust their expectations a bit.
After landing Deshaun Watson in a monumental trade with the Houston Texans, the Cleveland Browns are now looking to move on from Baker Mayfield. Cleveland doesn’t need two highly paid quarterbacks, so it makes sense that the Browns would want to trade Mayfield, the quarterback they drafted first overall in 2018, and focus on their future.
But like with just about everything else the Browns have to deal with, trading Mayfield may be more difficult than initially expected.
While Mayfield is talented, has been fairly productive as the starting quarterback for the Browns, and has shown flashes of potential here and there, it appears as if some NFL franchises aren’t interested in trading away their future for him.
Citing Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Dov Kleiman shared what the Browns reportedly want in exchange for their former first-round draft pick. While the Browns apparently wanted at least a second-round pick (in addition to not having to take on any of his contract), other teams don’t seem so sure about that.
The #Browns initially wanted at least a 2nd rounder and more for Baker Mayfield while refusing to take on any of the money on his contract, per to @TomPelissero
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 30, 2022
Also notes that some NFL teams didn't even believe he was a 1st rounder in the 2018 Draft. Browns made him 1st overall pic.twitter.com/y6zpkePnSX
Cleveland Browns
Kleiman also notes that apparently some NFL teams didn’t see Mayfield as a first-round draft pick in 2018, which seems a bit odd considering how good Mayfield was during his college career and the hype that surrounded him heading into the 2018 NFL Draft.
But it’s possible some folks didn’t buy into that and some teams weren’t thrilled with the idea of drafting Mayfield.
During his time with the Browns, Mayfield was able to help get Cleveland into position to be a winning team. During the 2020 season, Mayfield helped the Browns make the playoffs for the first time since the 2002 season.
In 60 regular-season games, Mayfield has thrown for 14,125 yards and 92 touchdowns against 56 interceptions. Mayfield has completed 61.6 percent of his passes.