When the Cleveland Browns pursued QB Deshaun Watson, their previous starting quarterback demanded a trade. Even before Watson chose the Browns, Mayfield was set on moving on. From everything the Browns said publicly and, reportedly, to his agents, the team was only interested in finding an upgrade or running it back with Mayfield.
Once Cleveland finalized the trade for Watson and gave him a huge new contract, Mayfield’s days with the team were clearly numbered.
Recovering from surgery with one guaranteed year left on his contract, the Browns didn’t find any takers for the former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. It seemed as if GM Andrew Berry had no leverage in trying to make a trade for the team’s former top overall pick.
Berry held fast to his expectations including not meeting the Carolina Panthers’ demands in trade talks during the NFL draft. It seemed Cleveland would only regain leverage if/when another team’s quarterback got injured.
Then, a report came out that the Panthers had some urgency to get a deal done. This week, a report came out that the Seattle Seahawks are still interested and could even extend the quarterback.
All of a sudden, Berry had two teams that were now, reportedly, interested.
Also this week, reports came out that the NFL is looking at a lengthy, at least a year, suspension for Watson. While it seems unlikely that Mayfield and the Browns would ever reunite, Berry can honestly say he’s the best quarterback for the team if Watson is out for the year.
A few weeks ago, it seemed like Mayfield might end up a backup somewhere. This week, Seattle, Carolina and even Cleveland (we highly doubt this is possible but it also isn’t impossible) may want him as their starting QB for 2022.
Berry and the Browns have some leverage, perhaps for the first time, in Mayfield trade talks.