Cleveland Browns rumors, Baker Mayfield prefers Colts as landing spot

The Cleveland Browns have made Baker Mayfield more of a lame-duck quarterback than ever, as the head honchos at the front office flew to Texas to meet with Deshaun Watson.

Reports coming from local media have the Browns moving on from Mayfield, even if Watson doesn’t pick Cleveland his preferred destination.

The rumor mill has Mayfield preferring the Colts as his preferred landing spot, as Indianapolis looks for their sixth quarterback in six seasons, according to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, via TLOD.

Indy recently traded Carson Wentz to the Commanders after the former No. 2 overall pick failed to be the Jaguars in the season finale, costing his team a playoff Bert. Presumably, the Browns can get something similar to what the Colts got for Wentz–a third-round pick this spring and a conditional third rounder in 2023.

Never says never, but it looks like the Baker Mayfield era is over in Cleveland–a bittersweet ending to a story that started so promising.

Front office must believe Baker Mayfield can’t win

Baker made the Browns credible again, setting, at the time, the rookie record for touchdown passes in a season (27). Two seasons later, he led the Browns to their first playoff win since January of 1995.

Unfortunately, there too many question marks in-between, and especially, all of last season as Mayfield played through a shoulder injury. More is being reported of his inability to make plays from the pocket, which is why the Browns are looking to move on. They’ve got to keep up with the rest of the AFC and by taking the meeting with Watson, it’s clear the Browns’ brass doesn’t believe he can do it.

Watson is a polarizing name to the fan base because of the  22 civil lawsuits brought against him for alleged behavior at massage parlors. The Browns PR department will be putting in 18-hour days if Watson actually joins the team.

Alas, I don’t think he’ll choose Cleveland, which leaves the Browns in a tough spot. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reported he could still be dealt even if Watson goes elsewhere.

What next? Derek Carr? Jimmy G? Marcus Mariota?

You’re not supposed to move on from your quarterback until you have the next one lined up, but I don’t see how Mayfield returns after all of this.