The Cleveland Browns quarterback carousel continues to spin, and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III has criticized the issue scathingly. As the Browns continue to grapple with the fallout of the Deshaun Watson trade, Baker Mayfield, a quarterback they gave up on too early, is now thriving with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Robert Griffin III Lambasts Browns Over Trying To ‘Destroy Baker Mayfield’s NFL Career’
Mayfield was outstanding in a 48-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers (the team the Browns traded him to in 2022) in Week 17. He registered 359 passing yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
This performance put Mayfield in elite company, joining Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, and Watson as the only players to achieve 350+ passing yards, 5+ touchdowns, a 150+ passer rating, and an 80%+ completion rate in a single game.
Griffin took to X to blast the Browns’ handling of Mayfield, tweeting, “The Cleveland Browns tried to destroy Baker Mayfield’s NFL career and reputation after he helped them end the NFL’s longest post season drought and win their first playoff game in 26 years. They said they wanted an ‘adult’ in the room.
“Now Baker is the Franchise QB for the Tampa Bay Bucs after playing for the Panthers and the Rams during a 2 year sabbatical. He never gave up. He never lost sight of who he was. This year he threw for a career high in TD passes, passing yards, yards per attempt and Passer Rating and has the Bucs in the playoffs right now. Turns out he was the ‘adult’ in the room and Cleveland is still searching for their Franchise QB,” RGIII added.
The Cleveland Browns tried to destroy Baker Mayfield’s NFL career and reputation after he helped them end the NFL’s longest post season drought and win their first playoff game in 26 years.
They said they wanted an “adult” in the room.
Now Baker is the Franchise QB for the… pic.twitter.com/PvNsWwaItT
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 30, 2024
The Browns’ quarterback situation has been a mess for quite some time now. Watson is recovering from a torn Achilles, and backup Jameis Winston is heading to free agency. Meanwhile, their third quarterback on the roster, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, has not impressed.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski has struggled to manage his offense, with poor quarterback play being a major factor. As a result, Cleveland currently finds itself positioned high in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
The Browns’ front office has a golden chance to draft a quarterback, but questions remain about their ability to choose the right one. Past decisions, including the Watson trade and the handling of Mayfield, haven’t set the right precedent.