Getty Images Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns.
Baker Mayfield is being pitched as the quarterback of the future for the New Orleans Saints as the Cleveland Browns continue to search for a trade partner for the former top overall pick.
FS1’s Colin Cowherd said the Saints should throw their hat in the ring to acquire Mayfield.
“Baker Mayfield and his agent should try to get to New Orleans. Number one: [The Saints] already moved Taysom Hill – I think smartly – out of the quarterback room. Number two: Nobody is really all-in on Jameis [Winston],” Cowherd said on the May 31 episode of “The Herd.” “He’s always been, you know, Jameis. He went 7-9, [the Bucs] brought in [Tom] Brady, and won the Super Bowl. That was not a great day in [Winston’s] career. He has a lot doubters and now he is limping around.”
Baker’s first 4 years as starter: 29-30, 92 TD, 56 INT
Brees’ first 4 years as starter: 30-28, 79 TD, 53 INT
“New Orleans has a reputation of drafting very well and giving their QB a lot to work with… Baker to the Saints makes a ton of sense.” — @ColinCowherd
The Browns have been unable to trade Mayfield following their acquisition of Deshaun Watson, with the limited number of suitors unwilling to take on Mayfield’s $18.8 million salary — or even a smaller chunk of it — for next season. The two teams that have been most prevalent in the Mayfield trade talks have been the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks, but even with those two teams there appears to be little traction.
Browns Have Called Mayfield’s Situation ‘Fluid’
Cowherd is a longtime hater of Mayfield, going back to his college days. However, he said that the former Oklahoma standout would be an upgrade over Winston, who is coming off a torn ACL and is slated to be the Saints’ starting quarterback.
“Tom [Brady] is moving on,” Cowherd said. “If you acquire Baker Mayfield with that defense in a weak division with two other teams rebuilding, in one year Baker is the best quarterback.”
The Browns have remained relatively quiet about Mayfield’s status with the team, and general manager Andrew Berry has said he won’t be jumping the gun on a trade.
“It’s a fluid situation,” Berry said while appearing on 92.3 The Fan in May. “We will deal with it day by day.”
What has become clear as of late is that the Browns will not cut Mayfield under any circumstance, even if he’s still on the roster by training camp. If they were to cut him, Cleveland would owe Mayfield the entirety of his salary, minus whatever he signs for with another team (which likely wouldn’t be for more than the minimum).
Baker Mayfield Will Play With Chip on His Shoulder
Much of the narrative surrounding Mayfield’s future in the NFL has been negative, which is understandable considering he passed for just 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last season while battling injuries.
That being said, Mayfield has proved throughout his career that he embraces being the underdog. And there’s reason to believe that Mayfield can be an above-average starter. He had an outstanding rookie season and also helped the Browns to a playoff berth — and win — in 2021.
“I had great times my rookie year. I didn’t start in the beginning. I came in and had fun in the back half of the year. 2019 sucked. 2020 was great, made the playoffs. 2021 was miserable,” Mayfield said during an appearance on the “Ya Neva Know: you know what I mean?” podcast in April. “I’m just looking for stabilization right now.”
Could that stabilization come in the Big Easy? Or will Mayfield land elsewhere? Only time will tell what is next for the embattled Browns quarterback.