For sale: One Baker Mayfield, slightly used, available for shopworn discount.
The Browns have been searching for a trade partner for Mayfield since the conclusion of the 2021 NFL season. It sounds as if the front office may be willing to bite the bullet to move on from him.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Browns are willing to eat about half of Mayfield’s 2022 salary — that would be roughly $9 million of the $18.858 due him this upcoming season — to facilitate a trade.
Are the Panthers close to a deal for @bakermayfield despite Matt Rhule’s comments about Sam Darnold?@AlbertBreer on the latest:#NFL #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/SfgUhFUq3g
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) June 17, 2022
MORE: The latest on Deshaun Watson’s situation with the Browns
“Cleveland’s been willing to take on a fair amount of Baker’s salary — like $9 (million)-$10 million,” Breer said on a recent episode of “The Rich Eisen Show.” “So people out there thinking Cleveland is holding on to Baker as Deshaun (Watson) insurance, they wouldn’t be offering a pretty significant portion of the guy’s salary if they were looking to hold him until there was more clarity in Deshaun Watson’s case.”
Breer also mentioned that the Panthers, still seemingly unsettled at quarterback, remain a potential landing spot for Mayfield, but they’re only looking to add him at a significantly reduced rate. They want him at a “bargain.”
The Seahawks remain another team to watch in the Mayfield sweepstakes. Drew Lock and Geno Smith are the top two current options as Seattle figures out its QB situation.
The Browns are still uncertain about Deshaun Watson’s standing with the NFL as the quarterback faces accusations of sexual misconduct — from harassment to assault — from 26 different women.
Reports say that a Mayfield-for-Sam Darnold trade with the Panthers — which would swap the top two quarterbacks selected in the 2018 NFL Draft — is a non-starter. Darnold is making the same guaranteed $18.858 million as Mayfield on a fifth-year option.
For now, Mayfield remains a Brown, though it seems as if he may be more of a bargain for other teams than previously imagined.
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