PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Cleveland Browns have two high-profile QBs on their depth chart. One is making $230 million guaranteed, while the other can’t wait to get the heck out of town. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is ready to move forward with controversial franchise QB Deshaun Watson, and he’s also ready to move on from disgruntled former first overall pick Baker Mayfield. Much like the acquisition of Watson, the shopping of Mayfield has come with its fair share of controversy.
Browns, Kevin Stefanski want closure just like Baker Mayfield
While the Browns were courting Watson during his trade sweepstakes, Cleveland’s public spectacle drew the ire of Mayfield, who wrote an impromptu social media farewell to the city of Cleveland before Watson could even make a decision on the trade process.
Mayfield eventually requested a trade and the Browns denied that request shortly after Watson, who is facing 22 civil suits stemming from accusations of sexual misconduct, initially balked at joining the Browns. Eventually, Watson changed his mind, the Browns traded a boatload of picks to the Houston Texans, and Mayfield immediately was put on the block.
However, it’s been 10 days since the Watson trade and Mayfield remains in Cleveland, largely due to his $18.9 million fully guaranteed salary, which is on the last year of his rookie deal.
The Indianapolis Colts were Mayfield’s desired landing spot, but the AFC South franchise opted to add former MVP Matt Ryan instead. Spurned by the Colts, Mayfield and the Browns are now in an awkward state of limbo.
“I think it’s a unique situation,” Stefanski said Monday at the NFL’s annual owners meeting. “We need to see how it plays out. All of us would love an answer, yes or no, that’s not the reality.”
The timeline for a Mayfield trade
With few teams left on the QB market, Mayfield’s prospects for a deal are limited. He’s making mid-level starting QB money, and most of the league either already has a starter in place or doesn’t have the cap space to make a deal for Mayfield work.
That outlook has caused Mayfield’s trade timeline to stall and left the Browns in an awkward spot with the draft only a month away. The Browns could mitigate the cost for Mayfield by offering to pay a portion of his salary, but even then, based on how the quarterback has handled the Watson situation, he still might not warrant much of a return in a swap.
“I understand that there are several dynamics that play into that,” Stefanski said.
The Browns’ best opportunity to move on from Mayfield might be during or after the NFL Draft. If a team strikes out on landing their desired QB prospect, Mayfield could have appeal as a backup plan. For Stefanski and the Browns, the waiting game isn’t ideal, but it’s the only card they can play at this point after the Watson trade.
“I think we’ll see,” Stefanski said. “I think everybody understands the situation and we’re hoping there’s closure to it at some point.”