3 reasons Baker Mayfield could still be on Browns Week 1 roster in 2022
By Greg Newland
The Cleveland Browns and Baker Mayfield certainly aren’t on great terms now, but there are several reasons why he could still be the starter in 2022.
Andrew Berry and the Cleveland Browns are in a very strange situation at the moment. Not only is Baker Mayfield a disgruntled employee, but the team currently has absolutely no leverage to move on from his contract.
In the last offseason when the Browns front office decided to pick up the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, they knew they would be committing to an $18.9 million deal of all guaranteed money. After his struggles in 2021 and offseason shoulder surgery, there doesn’t appear to be a lot of takers for the former Heisman Trophy winner and overall number one pick.
After a brief stint of believing that Mayfield may be the long-term solution in Cleveland, things turned drastically when Berry gave up six draft picks to land star quarterback Deshaun Watson just a few weeks ago.
Should Berry really be surprised that Mayfield demanded to be traded?
Honestly, what we all loved (or at least acted like) most about Mayfield was his fiery antics and always playing with a chip on his shoulder. The moment I read the news that the Browns were pursuing Watson I knew the Mayfield era was over.
While some guys around the league would understand the business aspect of this type of move and due diligence, Mayfield just isn’t that person.
So, what options do the Browns have right now? The two scenarios everyone is talking about are a trade or a release. With a trade seeming more and more unlikely because of the guaranteed money, and the Browns not wanting to release Mayfield with the responsibility of his 2022 salary, option three which no one is discussing could be real.
Why wouldn’t the Browns consider just keeping him on the roster? Especially at the beginning of the season.