NFL Trade Rumors: Browns have made a decision about Baker Mayfield

This NFL offseason had so many headline-making moves that sometimes it was hard to keeptrackof each oneof them. From Russell Wilson‘strade to Tom Brady‘s unretirement, many quarterbacks havebeen on the move this year. Except for Baker Mayfield.

The Cleveland Brownsmade clear he would no longer be their starting quarterback when they tradedwith the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson. However, the months have passed and Mayfield is still on the roster.

It just doesn’t make sense for any of them to continue like this, Mayfield has expressed his frustration with the organization, while the Browns are clearly going forward with Watson as QB1. But far from making this easier, the front office still wants to emergevictorious from this situation.

Browns’ bigdecision on Mayfield and his contract

The problem for the Browns is not just having a disgruntled quarterback sitting on the sidelines. It’s that they have to pay him likeastarter, given thatthey picked up his fifth-year option. So otherteams arehesitant about trading for Mayfield not only because of his play, but mostly because of the $18 million salary he’s due this season.

The best way to speed up hisdeparture would be to take part of it, but that’s not something theteam leaders are expected to do. According to Dianna Russiniof ESPN, the Browns have no intention of paying Mayfieldany of his contract this year. So, if any team wants to trade for him, they must take all the money in his deal as well.

“The Cleveland Browns do not want to take on that contract. I don’t know the number they’re willing to go to … they want nothing to do with that deal. If you want Baker Mayfield, you’re going to pay that money. Cleveland’s not going to try to split it up with you,” said Russinion The Ryen Rusillo podcast, via The Spun.

While this would work out perfect for the Browns if any team is willing to meet their demands, it could alsobackfire.At this point, it looks likeitwill onlycost Cleveland a lot of cap space unless someone changes their mindor a team suddenlyfeels desperated for a quarterback.