3 Reasons Baker Mayfield is the best quarterback available during the draft

Jan 3, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns, Baker Mayfield
Sep 24, 2021; Syracuse, New York, USA; Liberty Flames quarterback Malik Willis (7) escapes a tackle by Syracuse Orange linebacker Mikel Jones (3) in the first quarter at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

Reason Baker Mayfield is the best available QB No. 3 – One-year free trial

With the 2023 quarterback class stacked in talent, the Cleveland Browns may find a few more buyers who are willing to just wait until next year to find their guy. On one side, trading for a guy like Baker Mayfield will likely take you out of the top three picks in the 2023 draft.

But it also gives you a free look at a potential long-term solution at a discounted rate.

I get that Andrew Berry and the Browns don’t want to pay the $18.9 million of guaranteed money to Mayfield, but it really isn’t that much money in the grand scheme of things. It’s more about the principle of why the Browns don’t want to eat it. The team still has plenty of money to sign anyone they want for the 2022 season.

If you are a team like the Seattle Seahawks who still have a few pieces and a great home-field advantage, why wouldn’t you give up a sixth-round pick for a one-year deal? Are you really going to roll the dice at pick No. 9 on three guys who haven’t proven a whole lot in college football?

Remember, Willis has hardly even played against a division-one defense in his time at Liberty. I just don’t understand how a team couldn’t justify the value in a one-year deal for someone with the experience and talent of Mayfield.