Prior to seeing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. go down with a torn ACL, there was a lot of trade talk surrounding the Cleveland Browns Pro Bowler. Primarily, rumors suggested that OBJ had a rift with quarterback Baker Mayfield. In reality, the two just have not hit it off on the field since Beckham Jr. joined the Browns last season.
We’re now hearing some more information as it relates to Mayfield. To say that it is interesting would be an understatement.
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Could the Cleveland Browns trade Baker Mayfield?
NFL insider Dan Pompei of The Athletic spoke with anonymous executives around the league about quarterbacks that could potentially be traded this coming offseason. Said executives focused on the likes of Jacoby Brissett with the Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers signal caller Jimmy Garoppolo.
While neither of those names can be considered a surprise, these executives also indicated that Mayfield himself could be traded (read here).
At 5-3 on the season, the Cleveland Browns are looking to make their first playoff appearance since all the way back in 2002. Unfortunately, Mayfield has not played a major role in Cleveland’s success under first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Baker Mayfield stats
- Completions: 137
- Attempts: 223
- Comp %: 61.4
- Yards: 1,514
- TD: 15
- INT: 7
- QB rating: 90.9
If you take away what could very well have been a career-defining five-touchdown performance in Week 7, Mayfield simply has not progressed at the level most anticipated heading into his third NFL season.
The former No. 1 overall pick was given a pass last season. One-and-done former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens was seen as being in over his head. The same thing can’t be said about the new Browns’ head coach, an innovative mind in that of Mr. Stefanski.
Related: NFL Week 9 schedule, predictions
Would the Cleveland Browns end the Baker Mayfield experiment?
That’s the million-dollar question. Right now, Cleveland is on pace to go 10-6 this season and earn a spot in the playoffs. Should the team struggle moving forward, it’s possible that the Browns will look in another direction under center.
Following their Week 9 bye, the Browns have a pretty favorable slate of games. This includes consecutive matchups against losing squads in that of the Texans, Eagles and Jaguars, who boast a combined 5-16-1 record. This might very well be Mayfield’s final chance to shine for the Cleveland Browns.
It’s certainly something to keep an eye on moving forward this season and into the NFL offseason. Baker Mayfield as the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback of the future is no longer etched in stone. That much is for certain.