Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

There are 17 teams that could use Baker Mayfield in 2023 and a reason why for each

By Chad Porto

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - AUGUST 14: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looks on in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a preseason game at TIAA Bank Field on August 14, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - AUGUST 14: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looks on in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a preseason game at TIAA Bank Field on August 14, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 7
Next
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Reason: No starter

The Atlanta Falcons just traded away their best franchise quarterback ever and now they’re looking at replacing him with Marcus Mariota. That’s a backward move, as Mariota has shown what he is, or more specifically isn’t as a starting NFL quarterback, and this is coming from a fan of his out of college. The Falcons drafted Desmond Ridder, but you don’t build around quarterbacks taken with third-round picks all that often. Baker Mayfield would be an interesting fit with this team, especially if the offense under Arthur Smith is potent with Mariota and Ridder in it.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Reason: Tom Brady could retire/leave

There are two big rumors about Tom Brady, that he’ll either A) retire after this year to be a broadcaster, or B) leave Tampa Bay to play in Miami. If either of those come to fruition, then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and head coach Todd Bowles will need a new quarterback. While I would’ve liked to see Byron Leftwich get the job, clearly the team is confident in Bowles. Mayfield could do worse than a ready-to-win team in Tampa.

New Orleans Saints

Reason: No real starter

New Orleans is a great scheme fit for Baker Mayfield, or at least was when Sean Payton was running things. Mayfield and former Saints quarterback Drew Brees play so similarly that it would be nearly impossible to not get something out of Mayfield in that system. Dennis Allen is keeping things largely the same, so maybe Mayfield would do well here. The team has Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, and Taysom Hill on the roster, but at this point, none of the are viable starters beyond spot-starts. Dalton is past his prime, Winston has accuracy issues that cropped up last year, and Hill is just a hard guy to figure out.

Carolina Panthers

Reason: No real starter

We’ve talked enough about the Panthers but a team built around Sam Darnold isn’t going to fly. It sounds like Matt Rhule may be on the hot seat and if he thinks he can land Mayfield at a fair price, and do so early enough, he may just pull the trigger. That’s a two-way street though. It’s unlikely that Rhule comes back if he has a bad year, so if he’s gone in 2023, then Mayfield may not be a viable option for the club.

Home/Cleveland Browns