Browns Baker Mayfield destroys trade value with antics
By Joel W. Cade
Trade Market after Baker Mayfield antics
Teams need quarterbacks. It would seem logical that a former first overall pick would have a significant trade market based on talent alone. But Mayfield’s market seems to have dried up. Getting a first-round pick seems like a distant fairy tale now.
The team Mayfield wanted to play for was the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have a good team and are a good quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender. Plus, they run an offense based on play action and quick QB reads. This plays to his strength as Baker is not a good pocket passer.
But this market dried up when the Colts traded for Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan. The Colts sent the Falcons a 3rd round pick in exchange. No doubt Matt Ryan is a better quarterback. If the Falcons could only get a 3rd, then Baker’s market has to be set below that.
So, what about the Falcons? Maybe a trade could be worked out there — or not.
The Falcons immediately signed former Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota to a two-year contract. You read that correctly. The Falcons would rather have a guy who lost his job and then was a backup over Mayfield.
The only teams left as possibilities for Mayfield are the Seattle Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers seem all-in on quarterback Kenny Pickett in the upcoming draft, however.
With a dwindling market Mayfield has hung himself out to dry. His poor play combined with Baker-antics has left teams squeamish on bringing him in.
Further, the Baker-antics has also caused teams to sit and wait for the Browns to simply release him instead of taking on a 19-million-dollar salary. So, where do the Browns go from here?