Browns Baker Mayfield destroys trade value with antics
By Joel W. Cade
The Cleveland Browns are looking to trade quarterback Baker Mayfield after recent trade. But did Mayfield’s antics destroy his trade value?
The Cleveland Browns will have to wait to trade Baker Mayfield because his market has dried up. The dream of getting a first-round pick is over. If a trade will be made, the Browns will have to wait until 2023 or until a team gets desperate due to injury or missing out in the draft.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield destroyed his trade value with his antics during the Deshaun Watson trade. In case you were on Jupiter negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement for Major League Baseball last month and missed it, the Browns traded for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson alienating Mayfield in the process.
Mayfield, who quit social media, sent an open letter to the city and fans of Cleveland via Instagram thanking them for their support over the past four years.
Then Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported that Mayfield told the Browns he would sit out the 2022 season if he was not traded. The straw that broke the camel’s back for Mayfield was the report that the Browns wanted an “adult” at quarterback.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen says Baker Mayfield and the Browns are breaking up because the Browns want an “adult” at QB pic.twitter.com/cXPIOKNklr
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) March 16, 2022
Mayfield responded by proving he is anything but an adult. Now his actions have destroyed his trade value.
The Browns were looking to get a first-round pick for Mayfield. This may sound crazy at first, but before Baker-antics, there was reason to think they might get it. It is all in the spin.
Baker had a good 2020 season after Week 6. He showed potential as a rookie. He has dealt with a merry-go-round of coaches. In a stable environment he might become ‘The Guy’.
What has happened to the quarterback market post Baker-antics? Is there a chance to trade Mayfield?