Baker Mayfield is still the favorite to be the Cleveland Browns quarterback in 2022, but here are three other possible options to watch for.
I’m not sure anyone wants to be Andrew Berry, general manager of the Cleveland Browns right now. He has a roster that is loaded with talent, a head coach that was coach of the year in 2020, and a number one overall draft pick at quarterback.
However, after a dynamite 11-5 season in 2020, the Browns regressed to 8-9 in 2021 and failed to make a consecutive appearance in the playoffs. What’s even more disappointing is the Cincinnati Bengals took a huge leap making it to the Super Bowl and appear to be a serious contender for years with Joe Burrow at the helm.
The biggest question on this team right now is quarterback. Can Baker Mayfield be the long-term guy that helps get this team to a Super Bowl? At the end of 2020, everyone thought yes. Now, after a disappointing season and shoulder surgery, there are many skeptics.
In four almost full seasons as the starter, Mayfield is 29-30 with just over 14,000 yards passing, 92 touchdowns, and, 56 interceptions. A stat line that is truly less than impressive compared to a ton of guys in the league.
However, Mayfield led this team to their first playoff appearance since 2002, and first win since 1994. I honestly see why some people refuse to give up on him. For so long the Cleveland Browns were the joke of the league with 1,000 starting quarterbacks. With any little bit of stability, it’s easy to settle.
I would not count out Berry taking a hard look at the position and seeing if there is an outside solution. Here are three realistic options for the Browns at quarterback in 2022 if the front office decided Mayfield isn’t the answer.
Cleveland Browns QB option that isn’t Baker Mayfield No. 3: Marcus Mariota
After being the starting quarterback for the Titans for four seasons, Marcus Mariota has welcomed a backup role in the league for the last two years after being benched in his fifth season in Tennessee. With Derek Carr on the roster, he really was never given a shot, but he will likely want to go to a team where he can compete as the starter.
Why would the Cleveland Browns be interested in Mariota? Number one, the price will be right. He is a guy that has proven he can win in the league and will come at a discount.
Mariota will have fresh legs and has elite athleticism which can be a huge benefit in the Kevin Stefanski offense. This is a guy you bring in and keep Mayfield on the roster. You won’t give him the job for Week 1 (unless earned), but he certainly keeps Baker Mayfield motivated to play his best.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a downside to this as well. Bringing in Mariota as a backup could create a lot of unnecessary drama. This league is a business, but it would likely upset Mayfield. He may not say much, but it could also add additional pressure which could lead to even more mistakes.
With Case Keenum looking like a possible cap casualty, I expect the Browns to sign another quarterback with some starting experience. Mariota may be the guy.
Cleveland Browns QB option that isn’t Baker Mayfield No. 2: Mitchell Trubisky
One guy the league has quickly forgotten about is Mitchell Trubisky. Remember, this guy is 29-21 as a starter in the NFL, and that includes the horrid year he had as a rookie in 2017.
In 2018 he led the Bears to a 12-4 season and was a field goal away from winning a playoff game vs. the Eagles. The infamous Cody Parkey doinked one of the posts to end the game.
Then Trubisky was 8-7 in 2019, and 6-3 to start 2020 before Nick Foles took over after a shoulder injury. The Bears passed on his fifth-year option, and he basically sat on the sidelines in 2021 with the Bills behind Josh Allen.
I don’t think anyone doubts that this guy can still play, but it will be interesting to see what type of interest he gets in free agency.
Trubisky is from Northeast Ohio and could excel with proper coaching in this quarterback-friendly system, but again, will Berry be willing to bring in someone to compete with Mayfield for the starting job?
I don’t think you want to put all your eggs in the Trubisky basket and trade Mayfield. His ceiling is high, but he has also proven to be prone to timely interceptions which ultimately cost him his job in Chicago.
I personally love this option, but there is certainly a lot of risk to it.
Cleveland Browns QB option that isn’t Baker Mayfield No. 1: Kirk Cousins
Perhaps the most likely option for the Cleveland Browns (behind Baker Mayfield staying), is a trade for Kirk Cousins. The Vikings completely cleaned house with coaches and the general manager, and with a $45 million cap hit, you may see them highly motivated to trade Cousins as well.
The big issue here is he must be willing to restructure the deal. The Browns would likely be willing to pay him $30 plus million per year, but I don’t see them willing to take the $45 million cap hit with only one year on the deal.
The other positive, the Vikings have little leverage if they want to dump the contract. It’s fully guaranteed so they will just be moving money, not looking for anything in return.
I have heard the argument this offseason that Cousins isn’t an improvement for Mayfield. And while he does have a similar record overall at 59-59-2, the guy has six seasons with over 4,000 passing yards (one for nearly 5,000), Mayfield has zero.
I’m not saying he is Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes, but the statistics don’t like, Cousins has a good arm and can push the ball downfield. I think it’s safe to say the Browns also have a better roster than any team he’s ever been on. He went 24-23-1 over a three-year span with a Washington roster that didn’t have much talent at all.
Given the connection between the organizations, if the Browns are going to move on from Mayfield, I see Cousins as the guy. It’s not the splash move that some want, but I believe it makes this roster significantly better.