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Baker Mayfield Trade Rumors: Panthers, Lions Don't 'Have Much Interest' in Browns QB
April 4, 2022
The Cleveland Browns' options for trading Baker Mayfield are reportedly dwindling.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported neither the Carolina Panthers nor the Detroit Lions "have much interest" in acquiring the fifth-year quarterback.
Mayfield requested a trade from the Browns last month amid the team's pursuit of Deshaun Watson. Cleveland landed the three-time Pro Bowler in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans, sending out three first-round picks, a 2023 third-round pick and two fourth-round selections. Watson also agreed to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract, setting an NFL record for contractual guarantees.
While there's little chance Mayfield makes it through draft weekend still on Cleveland's roster, the Browns have found an understandably tepid market. Nearly every team that entered this offseason in search of a starting quarterback—either a short-term stopgap or a long-term solution—has made an acquisition.
The Panthers and Lions are two of the few remaining obvious potential landing spots. With that said, Carolina made a disastrous trade for Sam Darnold last offseason and likely doesn't want history to repeat itself by giving up more draft picks for another mediocre starter. The Lions arguably aren't doing worse than Mayfield under center with Jared Goff and could use the draft to select and develop their next franchise quarterback.
The Seattle Seahawks, who traded Russell Wilson earlier this offseason, arguably make the most sense among potential Mayfield suitors. They still have a group of skill-position players capable of making the playoffs, and Drew Lock, whom they acquired in the Wilson trade, has been wildly inconsistent in his three NFL seasons.
As it stands, though, the Browns aren't likely to get much more than a middle-round pick in exchange for Mayfield.
