People Around NFL Weigh in on Timing of Baker Mayfield’s Letter

His letter to Cleveland opened eyes on Tuesday night.

In a letter to the city of Cleveland, his NFL home for the last four years, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield specified that it “is not a message with hidden meaning.” However, the timing of the statement, released amid news that the franchise is pursuing Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, is absolutely notable.

Watson reportedly met with Cleveland on Tuesday, after meetings with New Orleans and Carolina and ahead of a meeting with Atlanta, as he looks to find a place to relaunch his NFL career. Last week, a grand jury dismissed nine criminal complaints filed against Watson for alleged sexual assault and harassment. He is still facing 22 active civil lawsuits stemming from the many allegations made against him in 2021. Watson also faces potential, and perhaps likely suspension from the NFL.

The last time we saw Watson play in 2020, he put together one of the league’s best individual quarterback seasons for the struggling Texans. The news that he won’t be criminally prosecuted is evidently enough for some teams to pursue him, and that leaves a quarterback like Mayfield in a precarious position. On Good Morning Football, NFL insider Ian Rapoport called it a “if I have to say goodbye” note, saying Mayfield is “irked.”

From @GMFB: The #Browns' meeting with #Texans QB Deshaun Watson left still-QB Baker Mayfield feeling some kind of way. Consider it a "If I have to say goodbye" note. pic.twitter.com/lCF4aExQVG

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2022

Mayfield is set to play on his fifth-year option for the Browns in 2022, if he remains with the team. That will pay him $18.8 million, before he hits unrestricted free agency in 2023. 

Some, including ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky take the note as a pretty clear sign that Mayfield’s time in Cleveland is done, and floats the idea of the Colts making a run at him for 2022.

Baker Mayfield is done in Cleveland-he has been since day after season. Yesterday just confirms it.

If I were him, I would do everything in my power to get to @Colts

If I were Indy, I’d make the call to see the cost, cause as of today that’s their best option.

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) March 16, 2022

Seems like a good time to repost this article I wrote on Jan. 3: "After disappointing 2021, are Baker Mayfield and the Browns headed toward a split?” https://t.co/j8nxWp2IAT pic.twitter.com/NxiGUXA0tI

— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) March 16, 2022

Mayfield’s 2021 was plagued by injury, including a partially torn labrum suffered in Week 2, and a knee contusion in Week 10. He was ultimately sidelined after Week 17 to have surgery on his shoulder.

In 14 games, Mayfield led the Browns to a 6–8 record, throwing for 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. It wasn’t the season many expected after he guided the team to a surprise playoff berth in 2020, capped by a shootout win over the Steelers in the wild card round before a close loss to the Chiefs to end the season.

If you thought the #Browns flirting w/ another QB wasn’t going to irk Baker Mayfield… you don’t know Baker Mayfield.
Oy. https://t.co/5XTjWDKlOz

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) March 16, 2022

Maybe I’m missing something. But that Baker Mayfield post seems unprecedented for a quarterback still under contract with his team.

— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) March 16, 2022

Moving on from a guy who led the long-struggling franchise to a special season is a tough move, especially with no guarantee of bringing a talent like Watson considering the other teams seeking his services. However, it is looking like a potential inevitability, given the fact that Mayfield seems pretty hurt here, and his lack of a contract beyond this year.

• Browns Digest: How can Browns be Confident in Deshaun Watson?

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