Cleveland Browns are not in the 2021 quarterback sweepstakes

The Cleveland Browns are finally set at quarterback

There will be some quarterbacks on the move during the 2021 offseason and plenty of teams will be searching for one, but one of those teams that will not be scouring the quarterback market is the Cleveland Browns.

Baker Mayfield proved this season that he is the right guy (finally) for the Browns moving forward. He checked all the boxes for what makes a franchise quarterback and will only get better as he gets even more comfortable in head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense, especially with the supporting cast surrounding him.

Deshaun Watson will likely be on the move this offseason, but the Browns will not and should not trade for him. Watson is an elite quarterback in the NFL, no doubt about it, but the Browns don’t need to give up the farm in order to acquire him. The Texans signed Watson to a four-year, $160 million extension back in September. Cleveland will have to decide when, not if, to pay Mayfield, either this offseason or next. Even when that decision comes, the price tag will not be the same.

This trade proposed by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell is absolutely ridiculous.

To quote rapper, Lil Wayne, “If it ain’t broke, don’t break it.”

Mayfield, along with his offensive line, running backs, wide receivers (depending on what moves the Browns decide to make in the WR room), head coach, and general manager are a great fit together. There is no reason to break that up, especially after Mayfield led the Browns to the playoffs for the first time in 18 years, including a playoff win for the first time in 26 years.

While Watson would most certainly shine with the arsenal Mayfield is surrounded with, there is no need to go after him and give up a plethora of draft capital. That only hurts the future of the team.

Matthew Stafford is going to be traded after he and the Detroit Lions mutually agreed to part ways this offseason. Again, the Browns should not even consider this, especially since Stafford has not proven he can reach the playoffs, only doing so in three of his 12 seasons. It wasn’t all on him, but give me Mayfield over Stafford.

Despite his “uncertain future” comments, Aaron Rodgers is not leaving the Green Bay Packers, unless he decides to retire. Over the last decade-plus, Rodgers has been one of the top two or three quarterbacks in the game, but even with that, he is 37-years old. Mayfield will turn 26 in April.

The Browns have a lot of decisions to make this offseason, especially getting faster on defense, but one position they do not have to trade for or look for in free agency or the draft is quarterback. Cleveland should use their draft capital for defense, whether drafting or trading and not for one of the potentially available quarterbacks.

The Browns have not had quarterback stability in forever, until now. Mayfield is the right guy for this team moving forward and the team should not even consider other options.