The Browns made a big-time trade on Friday afternoon when they traded three future first-round picks, among other assets, to the Texans in exchange for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson, who was on the trade block but had a no-trade clause, chose the Browns after also considering joining the Falcons, Saints and Panthers. Cleveland is hoping that its trade will give them the franchise-type quarterback that they have long coveted.
MORE: Full details of the Browns' trade for Deshaun Watson
Originally, the Browns thought that Baker Mayfield could be that player after selecting him No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, they soured on him after the 2021 NFL season and will look to trade him after acquiring Watson.
That said, Mayfield wasn't included as part of the trade package for Watson. Why is that? It likely had to do with Mayfield's fit with the Texans.
MORE: Deshaun Watson trade includes record-breaking extension for QB
Why the Baker Mayfield wasn't a part of the Deshaun Watson trade
The main reason Mayfield wasn't included in the Deshaun Watson trade is because he doesn't have a natural spot on the Texans' roster. That's because of second-year quarterback Davis Mills.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport referred to Mills as "a quarterback [the Texans] like" on NFL Network after the Watson trade went down. He believes that Houston wants to give Davis a chance to be the team's starting quarterback.
"If he was drafted in the first round, I think people would be talking about Davis Mills a little differently," Rapoport said. "I think what the Texans are going to do is build around him. They have so many first-round picks. They have a lot of artillery build a really strong roster — kind of like the Browns have right now — and I think they want to do it with Davis Mills."
From our breaking news coverage: The #Texans will explore options, but likely they'll build around QB Davis Mills using all their picks. pic.twitter.com/LaSH5JUX5J
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2022
Mills was a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft but played well as a rookie. He completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 2,664 yards, 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 11 starts. He got better as the season went along, and posted a 2-3 record in his last five starts while throwing nine touchdowns compared to two interceptions.
IYER: Grading the Deshaun Watson trade for the Browns & Texans
With the Texans seemingly planning to start Mills, they would have little use for Mayfield. His $18.8 million salary and cap hit for 2022 would make him an expensive backup, and it's unlikely that Mayfield would be happy serving as a backup anyway.
So, Houston likely would have had to trade Mayfield if they acquired him. Instead, the Browns will hold onto him for the time being and look to offload him in a separate trade, per Rapoport.
Where will Baker Mayfield be traded?
The Browns don't want Mayfield. The Texans didn't want him, either.
So, where might he land?
Teams will be interested, but I asked a league source if he expected a strong trade market for Browns QB Baker Mayfield.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) March 18, 2022
Answer: "Not really."
Cleveland now forced to trade Mayfield, and they'd be smart to do it before other QB movement.
After the Watson news, the Saints are expected to retain Jameis Winston. And the Falcons will look the rebuild its relationship with Matt Ryan.
The market doesn't appear to be full of suitors, however, Mayfield could be traded within the Texans division.
Baker Mayfield has informed the Browns that he'd prefer to be traded to the Colts, per sources. Earlier this week, prior to Mayfield's trade request, the Browns said they'd work with him on a trade. We'll see if they'll accommodate such a move to the AFC, though. @TheAthletic
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) March 18, 2022
As a player who loves to play with a chip on his shoulder, this may be fuel for Indy to pull the trigger.
