On the same day that the Cleveland Browns traveled to Houston to discuss a potential trade for Texans embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson, the team's current signal-caller, Baker Mayfield, released a statement via social media on Tuesday that conveyed clear frustration with his circumstances and also read as a goodbye message.
And according to multiple reports, the former first-overall pick doubled down on his resentment toward the Browns on Thursday, by requesting a trade and a fresh start elsewhere. But there's a twist: Cleveland isn't expected to honor Mayfield's request, and this response came just hours after the team learned that they're no longer in the running for Watson. So, the Browns' quarterback for next season is still Mayfield -- well, at least for now.
"I think the Browns are absolutely telling the truth right now. And they do fully believe he'll be their starter in 2022, barring some unforeseen circumstance," Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot explained to After Hours with Amy Lawrence on Friday. "And if that's not going to happen, someone really good is going to have to cross their path and become available to them.
"I don't know if they'd necessarily be interested in Matt Ryan or not. But what if the Falcons end up with Watson and Ryan becomes available? Sometimes things change, and that's what happened with the Deshaun Watson situation. I don't think they really believed or thought, back at the combine, they were going to toss their hat into the ring for Watson... I think they believe Mayfield is their best opportunity of what's available to help them win in 2022."
Mayfield's 2021 campaign was a headache. For three-plus months, he played with a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, and he underwent successful surgery to repair the injury in mid-January. Because of nagging problems with his shoulder, knee, and foot, the 26-year-old threw for just 3,010 yards with 17 touchdowns, 13 picks, and a career-low 35.1 QBR across 14 games. Cleveland finished the season with an 8-9 record and missed the AFC playoffs.
Last spring, the Browns exercised the fifth-year option on Mayfield, and he's set to make $18.8 million in 2022. Despite the injury concerns and mediocre performances, Spotrac lists his current market value at $159.4 million across five years. With an average annual value (AAV) of $31 million, Mayfield would become the league's 10th-highest paid player and quarterback.
The entire conversation between Cabot and Lawrence can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow After Hours With Amy Lawrence on Twitter @ALawRadio and @AfterHoursCBS, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.