Seahawks: 3 solutions to Seattle’s quarterback problem

2. Trade for Baker Mayfield and make the Cleveland Browns look even worse

And here we go again. To say things have hit the fan in Northeast Ohio would be a totally gross understatement at this point. The Cleveland Browns actually gave Deshaun Watson a fully-guaranteed, multi-year contract and there is next to no chance he even plays for them this season. While Jacoby Brissett is a proven stop-gap starter, Baker Mayfield’s days in Cleveland are so over.

Frankly, it probably serves Mayfield and the Browns to Jim Harbaugh power through the awkwardness and do it for the kids for one more season. He is playing on that fifth-year option. Cleveland did win a road playoff game over a rival two years ago. Together, they can set each other up for success beyond 2022. However, burning bridges is never easy. This relationship is so toast.

So what Seattle could do is agree to take on more of Mayfield’s 2022 salary than a team like, say the Carolina Panthers, in exchange for future draft capital to improve their roster. He would be the Seahawks’ unquestioned starter and could parlay that into a decent second professional contract, maybe in the Pacific Northwest if he balls out. It is unlikely, but this could be a long-term solution.

While Mayfield could have friction with Carroll, he may not be for long in Seattle at this time either.