Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has opened up about his future, and has even hinted that staying with the team could be an option moving forward. 

The former #1 draft pick from the 2018 Draft is in a very unenviable position at the moment when it comes to his career in the NFL. The Cleveland Browns were in the process of moving on from him as their starting quarterback, making it very clear when they traded for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, giving him a 5-year $230m fully-guaranteed contract to boot.

There were some suggestions that the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks were also showing an interest in trading for him, but problems on the Browns side and how much of his contract they are willing to take on after trading him have meant that finding a partner for him is proving tricky. 

A rocky road in Cleveland so far

Things have for the most part arguably gone well for Mayfield with the Browns. Having taken over a team that had only won one game in the two seasons before he arrived, he has been part of a side that has at least been competitive in the league rather than just a laughing stock.

He has a record of 29-30 as a starter, has thrown for 14,125 passing yards and 92 touchdowns compared to just 56 interceptions. He even took them to the playoffs in 2020 and helped win the franchise’s first playoff game since 1994 when they beat their division rival Pittsburgh Steelers:

However, an injury that he picked up in 2021, combined with the Browns’ desire to push that little bit further resulted in them moving on from Mayfield.  

However, with the situation surrounding Watson and a possible suspension that would be coming his way, it might be that Mayfield is asked to carry on the load for a little bit longer whilst the Browns wait for Watson to come back and be allowed to play. 

But Mayfield doesn’t see that happening.

What’s he said? 

Speaking to the media at his youth football camp back in Oklahoma, where he played college football, he was asked whether or not he would play for the Browns again given everything that has gone one and if there was any chance of reconciliation.

Mayfield though quickly dismissed any idea of such a thing happening:

So it seems all the more clear that Mayfield won’t be playing for the Browns this season, through both his own decision and possibly the Browns organisation too. The only question is, what happens if nobody comes and makes a trade for him? Is he destined to just sit in the stands for the whole year?