As individuals representing the Cleveland Browns were spending a portion of their Tuesday meeting with Houston Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson about Watson potentially waiving his no-trade clause for them, a report surfaced that the Texans weren't all that interested in landing current Cleveland starting signal-caller Baker Mayfield. It added that the Browns could trade Mayfield to a different team even if they didn't win the chance to acquire Watson. That was before Mayfield took to social media to thank the Cleveland faithful "with many uncertainties" hovering over his future.
Some, such as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, have openly wondered which teams would be interested in Mayfield coming off what most would call his worst NFL season, during which he spent the majority of the time nursing a serious injury to his non-throwing shoulder. It appears there could be at least two serious suitors for the first overall pick of the 2018 draft.
Pro Football Network's Tony Pauline reports Mayfield prefers to head to the Indianapolis Colts. As PFN's Matthew Cannata wrote, current Colts general manager Chris Ballard was mentored by John Dorsey, the executive responsible for the Browns drafting Mayfield. Ballard needs a new QB1 after agreeing to send Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders.
NFL insider Aaron Wilson, who also contributes for PFN, added the Seattle Seahawks could be a destination for Mayfield:
Nothing developing, and will take time for Baker Mayfield trade market to shake out, but league sources predict Seahawks would be attractive option welcomed by Browns quarterback in addition to Colts as Browns, Mayfield work through expected divorce
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 16, 2022
The Seahawks are officially trading one-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos at the start of the new league year on Wednesday and reportedly want no part of the Watson sweepstakes at this time.
One thing that seems certain is that Mayfield and the Browns will be breaking up, perhaps sooner rather than later.
#Browns EVP/GM Andrew Berry must have something up his sleeve - Deshaun Watson or not. He's opened up a significant amount of cap space this week.
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) March 16, 2022
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