The Cleveland Browns are saying goodbye to Baker Mayfield after trading him to the Carolina Panthers.
It’s an unfortunate end to their relationship with a play-caller whom they had high hopes for.
The Browns selected Mayfield with the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, hoping that he would become the franchise quarterback they have been seeking for decades.
However, he did not turn into the elite play-caller they hoped him to be.
But comparing him to their other first-round quarterbacks since 1999, Mayfield is the best by a mile.
Baker Mayfield led the Browns to their only playoff win during this span 😳 pic.twitter.com/15A8hC1mAm
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) July 8, 2022
You know that there’s a problem if a team drafted five first-round quarterbacks in a little over two decades.
Either they are not good at evaluating talent or are just cursed at the position.
Still, Mayfield is still the best among the bunch because he led the squad to a playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2020 AFC Wild Card Round.
Coming in at second is Tim Couch who led the Browns to the playoffs in 2002 but lost to the Steelers.
The Browns selected Brady Quinn in the first round of the 2007 draft and he lasted with the team for only three seasons.
Brandon Weeden lasted only two seasons after being chosen in round one of the 2012 draft.
Finally, Johnny Manziel was drafted to replace Weeden but only lasted two incident-filled seasons.
Mayfield Hopes To Stay Long Term With Carolina
While he is an upgrade from Sam Darnold and Matt Corral, it’s still uncertain if the Panthers will give him a contract extension.
It doesn’t help that the team doesn’t look at him with high regard because they will only pay $5 million of his 2022 salary.
It’s like they had no other choice but him, especially if general manager Scott Fitterer wants to keep his job.
Mayfield can use the upcoming season to prove that he should be a part of the team’s long-term goals.
Otherwise, he will be a free agent and would have to sign for a lower value to continue his career.
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