The first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is in limbo: Cleveland has traded for his replacement, Deshaun Watson, and signed the 2020 passing yards leader to a market-altering, fully-guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract extension despite Mayfield having his $18.9 million fully guaranteed, fifth-year option left on his contract in 2022. Cleveland also signed former Patriots, Colts and Dolphins quarterback Jacoby Brissett, seemingly in case Watson will have to miss significant time next season because of a suspension relating to 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault or misconduct.
The chances Mayfield remains on the Browns by the time the 2022 season kicks off are slim. Among 25 quarterbacks drafted in the first round from 2011-18, only two have played for the team that drafted them on the fifth-year option without receiving an extension: 2015 first overall pick Jameis Winston, and 2015 second overall pick Marcus Mariota. Neither were on the teams that drafted them after their fifth season. Mayfield would be the third, and Baltimore Ravens quarterback and 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson could, however unlikely it seems, be the fourth if he doesn't secure a long-term extension this offseason.
Just like the Browns, many other teams have recently made moves to secure talent at the quarterback position, including the Denver Broncos (Russell Wilson), Indianapolis Colts (Matt Ryan), Washington Commanders (Carson Wentz), Atlanta Falcons (Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder), and the Pittsburgh Steelers (Mitchell Trubisky and Kenny Pickett).
The Athletic's Jeff Howe reported reported on May 20 that the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks remain intrigued at the possibility of adding Mayfield to their quarterback competitions for the 2022 season. Howe reported that issue was the Browns so far being unwilling to absorb enough of Mayfield's fully guaranteed $18.858 million salary, and while the Panthers and Seahawks still haven't ruled out acquiring Mayfield, they'll need the Browns to take on a much greater portion of his contract than they've offered so far.
Mayfield has exuded confidence in his ability to adjust to another new situation.
"I feel disrespected 100% because I was told one thing and they completely did another," Mayfield said on the "You Never Know" podcast on April 13. "That's what I'm in the middle of right now. And you know what? OK. I got my taste of it because I've had four different head coaches in four years, a bunch of different coordinators. I've had the highs, and they always come back."
His faith in his ability to persevere isn't entirely unfounded. Mayfield is only the fourth QB since 1950 to play under three different full-time head coaches in his first three career NFL seasons (minimum 20 starts). He is the only one of those quarterbacks to win the majority of his starts in that constant state of transition, as he played under Hue Jackson in 2018, Freddie Kitchens in 2019 and Kevin Stefanski since 2020.