Baker Mayfield’s career is currently in limbo.
His Cleveland Browns have moved on from him by pulling off a blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson, but the 26-year-old is still under contract with the team.
After his initial trade request was denied by Cleveland — before their pursuit of Watson suddenly sprang back to life — the market for Mayfield is underwhelming at this moment.
The Browns are currently asking for at least a first-round pick after parting with three to get Watson — a price that doesn’t seem to be getting very many bites. Should a trade suitor not be found and the Browns release him, though, there appears to be a team stalking in the shadows ready to pounce.
And it will make for some incredible theater.
Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot revealed on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast that the Browns’ AFC North rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, “will pounce” on Mayfield.
“If they cut him and he’s just out there as a straight free agent, they would take him in a minute,” Cabot said. “If you could take him for nothing and the Browns have to eat that money, someone will grab him in that scenario.”
The Steelers’ quarterback situation remains in flux after the retirement of long-time passer and future Hall-of-Famer Ben Roethlisberger following the 2021 season. They attempted to supplement the move by signing Mitchell Trubisky, who spent last season backing up Josh Allen with the Buffalo Bills, but his prospects as a dependable starter are still underwhelming.
