The Cleveland Browns will be trading Baker Mayfield during the upcoming NFL draft and there is one team that has had its eye on Mayfield from the start
Baker Mayfield loves the spotlight. This past week the outspoken, former Oklahoma Sooner quarterback sat down on a popular podcast and discussed how he “felt disrespected” by the Cleveland Browns after the team decided to trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson.
I, like many of you, was excited when Mayfield arrived in Cleveland in 2018 and added back a boost of energy and wins to a franchise that had been deep in a pool of lousiness. It’s somewhat sad to see the player move onto another team, though we don’t know where that is yet. It seems the nearly $19 million he is due in salary next season is holding up other NFL teams from doing cartwheels to bring him to their team.
He will be traded sooner than later, and I suspect that could happen during the upcoming NFL Draft starting in two short weeks in Las Vegas. Numerous teams could use a quarterback.
One of those teams is the Seattle Seahawks, who recently had their star quarterback Russell Wilson traded to the Denver Broncos. I’d thought Seattle might be a landing spot for Mayfield, but recent news has reported that veteran quarterback Geno Smith just signed a new deal with the Seahawks, so unless that’s an expensive $7 million smoke and mirrors I’d suspect the Seattle trade possibility is out.
But there still are teams with some draft picks that could be intriguing to the Browns to move up a bit on draft night. The New York Jets and Giants are two teams that are usually in the mix of trades. Can you imagine how Mayfield would handle the media frenzy of New York City? There’s also a team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that still might be willing to trade for the former face of the Browns franchise.
But there’s one team and one former Cleveland general manager that might still believe in Mayfield. Let’s see who that team is and where that move might happen so that the Progressive Insurance commercials quarterback can have a new stadium to showcase his excellent acting skills.
Cleveland Browns will trade Mayfield on Day 2 of the draft to the Detroit Lions
Let’s look at the deal.
Trade of Baker Mayfield to Detroit Lions
Cleveland receives:
Round 2, 34th pick
Round 4 pick 2023
Round 6 Pick 2024
Detroit receives:
Baker Mayfield
Round 2 pick 44th pick
Round 4 pick 2023
Round 6 pick 2024
The Lions have two picks in the ’30s at No. 32 and 34. The Browns first draft pick is at No. 44. I believe the Browns will be patient and access the draft board after day one. I think the Lions, who now have John Dorsey helping run their franchise will be willing to take Mayfield in this No. 34 spot because he’s the player he believed in at No. 1 back in 2018 when he was the general manager of the Browns.
Detroit is still in desperate need of finding an identity. It’s been their biggest flaw as a franchise since running back Barry Sanders played and led the Lions.
Mayfield will be able to put Detroit back on the NFL map. Plus, he’ll like it because he’ll be back in the spotlight on Thanksgivings going forward.
Cleveland Browns Round 2 Pick 34: Jahan Dotson, WR Penn State
All offseason, the speculation has been that Cleveland would look to pick a wide receiver in this top-heavy class of talented players. With a few top-teared receivers like Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams off the board already, the team zeroes in on one of the wide receivers with the most experience and most ready for the NFL in Jahan Dotson from Penn State.
He’s a natural at finding weaknesses in the opposing team’s defense and getting open. He can separate from the cornerbacks and is always moving on routes even when his quarterback might be in trouble in the backfield.
He was a four-year player at Penn State and played in many big games over his tenure there. He went for 1,182 yards and snatched 12 touchdowns in his last season. He recorded a total of 91 catches his senior season and had three games last year where he went for double-digit receptions.
In back-to-back games last fall against Ohio State and then Maryland he caught 11 passes in each contest and a total of 369 yards and three touchdowns.
Cleveland Browns Round 3 Pick 78: Phidarian Mathis, DL, Alabama
It’s been said that Phidarian Mathis has the most potential of the defensive tackles in this season’s collegiate class. If he’s still here at pick No. 78, this could be a great selection by the Browns who need help on the defensive line. A few veterans are returning to Cleveland like Jordan Elliott, but this is a part of the team that needs the most help.
Mathis is considered by most to be a very astute player who can read plays and what the offense is going to do very well. He’s a solid 6-4 weighing in at 310-pounds. He’s a rock on the line and has great awareness to find the runner and shut them down.
The Browns certainly need some support along the defensive line. Giving up lengthy drives by the opponents last season where it seemed like the other team was running wild at times between the numbers was a continuous issue, especially in the first half of the season.
Cleveland Browns Round 3 Pick 99: Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State
Many draft projections have Jeremy Ruckert as the best tight end in the class this year. His collegiate numbers aren’t going to blow you away but he was also working on an Ohio State team that was stacked with offensive talent.
He finished his senior campaign with 26 receptions for 309 yards. He only grabbed three touchdowns. Even with the limited output, he is still considered to be at the top of the charts for what NFL teams are looking for in a tight end.
Ruckert stands at 6-5 and can help his new NFL team move the chains. He may not be a starter on the offensive end of the field initially for a team like the Browns because they have two tight ends in David Njoku and Harrison Bryant in front of him. But Ruckert is a great blocker and will likely see time on special teams initially if he gets drafted by the Browns.
It would be a popular pick amongst Browns fans that are also Buckeye fans. Cleveland drafted defensive lineman Tommy Togiai last year and they also have cornerback Denzel Ward from Ohio State. For years it seemed the Browns were trying to purposefully stay away from Buckeyes so it’s nice to see the team invest their time in finding talent that’s just down interstate 71.
Cleveland Browns Round 4 Pick 118: Cordale Flott, CB, LSU
Cornerback Cordale Flott from LSU had a solid junior season for the Tigers and was the starter. He stands at 6-1 and is very good at being a physical defender but also able to stay up with the speedy wide receivers he’s covering. He’s played various roles on the defense and in different schemes including zones. He’s even dropped back to play safety a time or two.
LSU seems to be a school with a factory of cornerbacks coming out of their program year after year. I wouldn’t be surprised by the Browns taking a chance on Flott here in the fourth round. The team already has three former LSU players playing on their defense including Greed Williams and Grant Delpit. It would be a reunion of sorts picking up Flott.
Cleveland Browns Round 6 Pick 202: Noah Elliss, DL, Idaho
Noah Elliss from Idaho is one of the biggest defensive players in the draft. He’s listed at 6-4 and 360-pounds so you can’t miss him on the line. But he’s more than a big guy as he’s a smart player learning the game quickly. His ability to close gaps by pushing the lineman on offense and stop the run is very important and a team like the Browns can use guys that can stop the run.
His size can be intimidating to the opponent and his ability to be a quick study and learn behind more experience linemen that the Browns have already like Jordan Elliott, could really benefit a player like Elliss.
Cleveland Browns Round 7 Pick 223: Carson Wells, LB, Colorado
This might be my favorite potential pick in this mock draft. Everything you read about Carson Wells is that he’s a stud. He grew up in Florida on a farm. He was the valedictorian of his high school class. He loves to study film and is a hard worker. If Wells is still here in the seventh round it might be a surprise to some because he’s impressing NFL scouts as he’s climbing some draft boards.
He recorded 62 tackles including 15 for losses and 5.5 sacks. Everything you read on Wells suggests is a student of the game. With that type of player available in the later rounds, I’d be very happy to hear the Browns select him in the draft.
Cleveland Browns Round 7 Pick 246: Doug Kramer, C, Illinois
Cleveland still needs help on the offensive line. Doug Kramer could be drafted here and learn first behind veterans like Etah Pocic. They’ll have others return too like Nick Harris but eventually, the team will have to concentrate on building up this unit.
Kramer stands at 6-2 and just over 300-pounds. He recently had his Pro Day at Illinois and performed well. Look for the Browns to pick up a couple of offensive linemen late and Kramer could be one of them.
However you slice it, Baker Mayfield will be traded during or right after the draft. I see the Lions and John Dorsey clearly as the best fit for Mayfield. Whatever happens, Mayfield continues to be in the spotlight but sometimes for the wrong reasons.