Browns Slammed for Baker Mayfield Situation
It feels like Baker Mayfield was a Cleveland Browns quarterback ages ago.
In reality, it's been just three seasons. Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a fifth-round pick on July 6, 2022, almost four months after the Browns acquired Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson.
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And the Cleveland Browns have never been the same since.
Watson has played in just 19 total games since arriving in Cleveland, while Mayfield has very quietly become a top-10 quarterback in the NFL. He signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the 2023 season, when he posted a career season with 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and a 64.3 completion percentage.
Mayfield bested that in 2024 with another career season, throwing for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, with a 71.4 completion percentage. He's also started all 34 games for the Bucs in two seasons.
An unnamed NFC personnel evaluator spoke with Matt Verderame of SI and seemingly took a shot at the Browns for the handling of Mayfield.
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"I think Mayfield is proof of the concept of coaching matters, systems matter, team build matters," that evaluator said. "But more than anything, if you can process quickly and get the ball out on time from the pocket, you don't have to be 6-foot-5 to play (quarterback) in this league.
"He has become a professional quarterback as opposed to a college kid just running plays."
What might be worse for the Browns is that after $230 million, all guaranteed, the Watson era might be over after he suffered two Achilles injuries in October and January.
Or, maybe that's the best part of the Watson era for the Browns.
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Related: 'He's Still Got That Hunger!' Buccaneers' Yaya Diaby Praises Newcomer Haason Reddick
Related: Browns Could Have Surprise Breakout Wide Receiver On Their Hands
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
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