Last month the Cleveland Browns shocked the world when they made the blockbuster trade for Deshaun Watson and effectively ending Baker Mayfield’s tenure as the team’s starting quarterback.
But Mayfield has yet to be traded, which has some people around the NFL wondering what exactly is going on?
Appearing on 97.3 The Fan, ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler said that NFL execs are starting to believe that the owners are pissed off with the Browns over the Watson contract and as a result have agreed not to trade for Mayfield in an effort to force the Browns to cut him.
The Browns gave Deshaun Watson a five-year, $230 million contract that is fully guaranteed.
Any team trading for Mayfield would have to agree to pay him his $18 million that he is owed in 2022. Mayfield is playing on his fifth year option. While the conspiracy theory sure could have some merit, it’s clear that teams just aren’t willing to give up draft picks and pay that salary for a quarterback that everyone knows has no future in Cleveland.
