One of the biggest surprises of the NFL offseason has been the decision that the Cleveland Browns made at the quarterback position. Cleveland pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans, as Deshaun Watson had a change of heart and waived his no-trade clause to go to the Browns. One team still looking for a quarterback is the Indianapolis Colts.
Watson will be taking over as the Browns’ starting quarterback. There is a chance he is still suspended for some games, as his off-field issues with 22 pending lawsuits against him have not yet been resolved. Either the Browns are confident he will be cleared from those, or don’t care what the outcome will be and just wanted to get him on the roster.
Whatever the case may be, it is the end of an era as Baker Mayfield is no longer the franchise quarterback of the Browns. Cleveland has already said that they will not honor his request for a trade.
While the Browns will not honor it, that doesn’t mean a deal cannot be made. Cleveland may not seek out a deal, but if a team comes to them with a strong offer, it would be ridiculous for them to not at least consider it.
When talking to NFL Analysis Network, a former NFL executive believes there is one team that should aggressively pursue Mayfield; the Indianapolis Colts.
“If I’m the Colts, there’s no question that I’m going after Baker Mayfield. He’s young, has the arm to be great, and brings a confidence that the Colts need. Chris Ballard needs to make this happen.”
The Colts have already made one big change at the quarterback position this offseason, trading Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders. 2022 will mark the fourth season the team will be playing since Andrew Luck surprisingly retired and a fourth new quarterback under center.
Acquiring someone such as Mayfield would help bring some continuity and security to the position. While Mayfield hasn’t exactly lived up to the expectations of being the No. 1 overall pick, as he was in 2018, he is still only 26-years old and could be a long-term option for whoever acquires him.
In Indianapolis, Mayfield would be put into a situation that could breed success instantly for whoever is under center. They have a dominant run game led by Jonatha Taylor, a go-to receiver in Michael Pittman Jr. and an excellent defense.
Given the strained relationship between Mayfield and the Browns, he may not get what he is seeking. However, Indianapolis could be the best landing spot for him should he be traded this offseason.
