The warning signs of an acrimonious divorce between the Cleveland Browns and Baker Mayfield are developing. Amid reports that the team flew down to Houston to discuss a potential deal for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, Cleveland's current signal-caller shared a statement on social media Tuesday, essentially thanking the city and its fans "who truly embraced who I am."
Two weeks ago, during the NFL Combine, Browns general manager Andrew Berry told reporters that he "fully" expects Mayfield to be the team's starter next season. But Mayfield's message suggests that the franchise isn't sold on the notion of keeping their former first-round pick. And with Watson as a clear upgrade, it's unclear whether Mayfield's time will soon be up.
"The cynic in all of us would read that post and think, 'compete,' right? It's a tough business and it's a brutal business," GoLongTD.com writer Tyler Dunne told the Reiter Than You show on Wednesday. "Everybody's replaceable, and it doesn't matter who you are, at any point in your career. Of course Cleveland would try to upgrade at the most important position in sports. I definitely get that argument. But, I definitely see Mayfield's point of view. He's very upset.
"He understands what he did last season. The Browns absolutely understand. This is a guy who tore his shoulder to shreds and had a heel and a groin, and was beaten and battered [in 2021]... I think that both sides are best together. The Browns at $18 million, you run it back with Baker in year five, you've seen a lot of good. He did take you to the playoffs... And if you miss out on Watson, what's better than Mayfield out there? I don't think there's really anything."
Mayfield's 2021 season was disappointing. For three-plus months, he played with a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, and in January, he underwent successful surgery to repair the injury. Because of nagging problems with his shoulder, knee, and foot, the fourth-year starter racked up only 3,010 passing yards with 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions across 14 games. And his 35.1 QBR, which was a career-low, ranked 27th in the league. With a record of 8-9, the Browns missed the playoffs.
As for Watson, who won't face any criminal charges for allegations of sexual misconduct, he's quickly become a hot commodity on the NFL trade market. Due to ongoing legal matters, the three-time Pro Bowler didn't play one snap for the Texans in 2021 -- he was listed as a healthy scratch each week. When Watson last saw playing time, in 2020, he threw for a career-high 4,823 yards with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The 26-year-old signed a four-year, $156 million contract extension in 2020, and has a no-trade clause.
The entire NFL conversation between Dunne and Reiter can be accessed in the audio player above.
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