Why Baker Mayfield’s Post-Cleveland Success Embodies The Browns Franchise

After a turbulent 2021 season that saw them go 8-9 and miss the playoffs, the Cleveland Browns faced an interesting dilemma at the quarterback position. Should they stick with their 2018 first overall pick Baker Mayfield, who despite being injured for most of the year led the team to their first playoff win in nearly 30 years the previous season, or pursue an upgrade in hopes of securing a player with a higher ceiling? Their decision was made in March of 2022, when they traded for Houston Texans starter Deshaun Watson and then signed him to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract despite the fact that Watson was facing nearly 30 sexual assault allegations.

The following July, the Browns traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers, where he played seven games before being released in December and signing with the Los Angeles Rams. Watson, meanwhile, began 2022 serving an 11-game suspension for the sexual assault allegations before his last six games, his first since the 2020 season, saw him look rusty. Following the season, Mayfield signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be their new franchise guy in the post-Tom Brady era. Let's see how everything is going for all parties involved, shall we?

Mayfield Has Revived Himself in Tampa Bay

After signing Brady in 2020, the Buccaneers spent the three seasons they had with him making the playoffs all three years and winning a Super Bowl. When Brady retired after the 2022 season, the team threw Mayfield a lifesaver and a chance to revive his career.

Since joining Tampa Bay, Mayfield has continued to keep the team relevant post-Brady. Their 9-8 record in 2023 was good enough for another division title, and they even won a playoff game against the Eagles. Although they lost to the Lions in the Divisional Round, optimism rode high for the franchise. Mayfield, who made his first Pro Bowl with the team, was rewarded with a three year extension worth $100 million.

Mayfield also had several personal achievements during the 2023 season. His 4,044 passing yards was a personal best, as was his 64.3% completion rate. He also became the first ever opposing QB to post a perfect passer rating at Lambeau Field when the Bucs defeated the Packers in Week 15. He opened 2024 by completing 24 of 30 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns as Tampa Bay routed the Commanders last weekend by a final score of 37-20.

I'll admit, Mayfield turned me off initially with his cocky demeanor, but I've come around on him. He's revived his career in Tampa and he's been one of the better feel-good stories in football lately. The Buccaneers have their quarterback for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, in Cleveland…

To say that Deshaun Watson’s Cleveland tenure has been a disaster would be a tremendous understatement. After a rusty end to 2022, he didn't look much better in 2023. For one, he only played in six games again, this time due to injuries. Although he went 5-1 in those games, his numbers were awful. He completed 61% of his throws for 1,115 yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions. To make matters worse, the team looked significantly better after Watson's injury. Around Thanksgiving, the team signed the corpse of Joe Flacco, who hadn't been a starter for over a year. Flacco would then experience a career revival and lead Cleveland to an unexpected playoff berth, winning Comeback Player of the Year honors along the way. Flacco’s numbers- 60% completion rate, 1,616 yards, and a 13:8 TD-INT ratio- were significantly better than that of Watson.

Watson’s contract isn't just awful due to his play as of late. On September 10, another sexual assault allegation was levied against him. The league currently has no plans to place him on the Commissioner's Exempt list, which would ban Watson from playing in any games but would allow him to remain with the team. However, there is a silver lining for a trapped Cleveland team money-wise. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reported that if Watson gets suspended, the Browns will likely cut ties with him after this year and, despite carrying a dead cap hit of nearly $81 million, would not be obligated to pay Watson $92 million, or 40%, of his contract.

After leading the league in passing yards during his last full season in Houston, it's clear Watson has never been the same since and probably won't regain his early career form when he was among the league’s elite QBs.

In The End, Cleveland Screwed Up With Baker

By signing Watson and trading Mayfield, the Browns did the most Browns thing ever.

In 2020, Mayfield led the Browns to their first playoff win in a long time while Watson led the league in passing. Since then, their careers have gone on completely different paths. After a rough two year stretch across three teams, Mayfield has revived his career in Tampa Bay and now looks to be a solid, middle of the road franchise quarterback who, when surrounded by the right players and coaches, can win a lot of games. Watson, meanwhile, has morphed into a complete weirdo who appears to have never recovered from sitting out of football for almost two years, both by choice and order.

I understand the Browns wanting to upgrade at QB. Mayfield has his limitations and was really immature during his first years as a pro. Even the injury he sustained in 2021 was immature, as he got hurt trying to body slam a defensive back following an interception.

Baker probably needed to leave Cleveland to be the player he is now. There’s no question that post-Cleveland, he has matured, which has led to his current success. However, the Browns said they wanted “an adult” at quarterback, and that's not what Deshaun Watson is. In the end, the Browns trapped themselves with a shell of a once elite talent rather than building on a good stretch of football they had started with their former first overall pick.

Serafino Diaz is a writer at Chaotically Intolerant, Phoenix's finest Vikings, Bucks, and Cubs fan, traveling everywhere I can.