the first standard prefer of the 2018 NFL Draft, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is in limbo: Cleveland has traded for his replacement, Deshaun Watson, and signed the 2020 passing yards leader to a market-altering, entirely-assured, 5-year, $230 million contract extension regardless of Mayfield having his $18.9 million totally guaranteed, fifth-yr alternative left on his contract in 2022. Cleveland additionally signed former Patriots, Colts and Dolphins quarterback Jacoby Brissett, seemingly in case Watson will have to miss enormous time next season because of a suspension relating to 22 civil court cases alleging sexual assault or misconduct.
The options Mayfield is still on the Browns by the time the 2022 season kicks off are slim. among 25 quarterbacks drafted in the first circular from 2011-18, simplest two have performed for the group that drafted them on the fifth-yr option with out receiving an extension: 2015 first typical pick Jameis Winston, and 2015 2nd standard select Marcus Mariota. Neither had been on the teams that drafted them after their fifth season. Mayfield could be the third, and Baltimore Ravens quarterback and 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson could, although not going it appears, be the fourth if he does not comfy a protracted-term extension this offseason.
identical to the Browns, many different groups have these days made strikes to comfy talent at the quarterback position, including the Denver Broncos (Russell Wilson), Indianapolis Colts (Matt Ryan), Washington Commanders (Carson Wentz), Atlanta Falcons (Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder), and the Pittsburgh Steelers (Mitchell Trubisky and Kenny Pickett).
The Athletic's Jeff Howe suggested pronounced on might also 20 that the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks continue to be intrigued on the opportunity of including Mayfield to their quarterback competitions for the 2022 season. Howe reported that challenge become the Browns thus far being unwilling to absorb adequate of Mayfield's entirely guaranteed $18.858 million profits, and while the Panthers and Seahawks nonetheless haven't ruled out buying Mayfield, they may want the Browns to tackle a lots more advantageous component of his contract than they've provided to this point.
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Mayfield has exuded self assurance in his means to regulate to yet another new condition.
"I consider disrespected one hundred% because i used to be told one issue and they absolutely did an additional," Mayfield spoke of on the "You never comprehend" podcast on April 13. "that's what i'm in the middle of presently. and also you be aware of what? good enough. I obtained my taste of it as a result of I've had 4 distinctive head coaches in four years, a bunch of distinct coordinators. I've had the highs, and they at all times come again."
His faith in his capability to persevere is never totally unfounded. Mayfield is just the fourth QB given that 1950 to play beneath three diverse full-time head coaches in his first three career NFL seasons (minimum 20 starts). he's the only one of these quarterbacks to win the vast majority of his starts in that consistent state of transition, as he played beneath Hue Jackson in 2018, Freddie Kitchens in 2019 and Kevin Stefanski since 2020.
QBs with 3 distinct head coaches in first 3 seasons*regardless of those uniquely trying situations, Mayfield has been the Browns' most prolific passer throughout the first 4 seasons of any participant's profession with the group, throwing for the most yards (14,a hundred twenty five) and touchdowns (ninety two) -- Bernie Kosar (1985-88) ranks 2nd in passing yards, and pro soccer corridor of Famer Otto Graham (1946-forty nine) ranks 2d in passing TDs.
Mayfield additionally helped lead the Browns to their first playoff look in two decades within the 2020 season (first considering 2002) as well as their first playoff win in 26 years (first for the reason that 1994).
Mayfield's production took a step back in 2021 as he performed through a torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder and neglected three games -- while his assisting cast also acquired hit with accidents, together with operating returned Nick Chubb (out 3 games), working returned Kareem Hunt (9 video games), extensive receiver Jarvis Landry (5 video games), left address Jedrick Wills (4 games) and right tackle Jack Conklin (10 video games). Browns quarterbacks have been beneath pressure on 26.9 percent of their drop-backs in 2020, the fifth-smallest cost in the NFL. That quantity increased to 30.5 % in 2021, the ninth-smallest cost in the NFL. in view that 2020, no quarterback's passer ranking greater after they had been below greater force than their prior season. So between his harm, his teammates' injuries and less time to throw, existence below core became drastically more difficult for Mayfield last season.
comparing Mayfield's stats the past two seasonsW-L
11-5*
6-8
Completion percent
sixty two.8%
60.5%
TD-INT
26-eight*
17-13
Passer rating
95.9*
eighty three.1
* profession high
"I actually have seen Baker play at a really high stage." Browns head train Kevin Stefanski said at his end-of-season press convention in January. "i'm assured he'll get this [shoulder] surgery and he's going to work real complicated this offseason to start again. He battled through this damage, like a lot of the blokes do. I do not say that to minimize how he did that. He pushed through it. i know he desires to operate superior. I even have seen him operate more advantageous. He performed profitable soccer for us. I utterly predict him to soar lower back next 12 months."
Mayfield most seems like a true-10 quarterback when employing play-motion, performing like one in 2020 when opposing defenses needed to account for healthier models of him, Chubb, Hunt, Landry and his offensive line. running play-action passes enables quarterbacks to streamline their scanning of the field by giving them only two or three routes to choose between, and the probability of running the ball slows down the flow rush, which provides the quarterback more space within the pocket. given that one among Mayfield's bigger weaknesses is his stature (standing 6-foot-1 is on the shorter conclusion for an NFL quarterback), his reliance on play-action makes a lot of feel. here's a look at how he's fared in play-action due to the fact Stefanski took over as head coach in 2020.
Mayfield's play-motion stats the past two seasonscirculate percent
28.7% (eighth)
24.3% (19th)
Yards per effort
9.5 (seventh)
10.0 (2nd)
Passing TD-INT
12-1 (6th)
6-4 (T-23rd)
Passer ranking
121.9 (fifth)
102.1 (seventeenth)
Having much less time to operate in 2021, Stefanski and the Browns decreased the usage of Mayfield's play-action game for quicker-establishing monitor passes. The number of screens practically doubled to 66, the 16th-most in the NFL, after only calling 39 display pass attempts in 2020, which was tied for the sixth-fewest within the NFL that season. Mayfield led the NFL with 8.8 yards per display flow attempt in 2021, and his 7.three yards per monitor circulate effort changed into the third-most in 2020. Neither led to as many fireworks for Mayfield and the Browns as play-action, as he most effective threw one passing touchdown on a reveal over the final two seasons, a 33-yarder to rookie operating again Demetric Felton in Week 2 in opposition t the Houston Texans closing season.
certainly, the Browns have decided to circulation on and if they and both the Panthers or Seahawks can agree on a trade package, Mayfield can get a second possibility to be a starter earlier than hitting free agency subsequent offseason.
"it's fluid, and we are going to simply proceed to work through it as we go daily," Stefanski spoke of at the NFL homeowners' meetings on the conclusion of March. "I consider every person knows the circumstance. We're hoping that there is closure to it at some aspect."
here is what Mayfield can be running into if he were to become a member of either of those two teams to compete for a new beginning quarterback job.
Panthers vs. Seahawks: comparing offenses Carolina PanthersQB drive fee allowed in 2021: 38.2% (thirty first out of 32 groups)2022 first-round draft opt for: NC State OT Ikem Ekwonu (6th typical)Play-action circulate price in 2021: 14% (twenty sixth out of 32 groups)Projected starting QB: Sam DarnoldCurrent QB commitment level: Lukewarm at optimal
"one of the issues i have been engaged on is being enhanced speaking to you people [media], so announcing the starting quarterback [Sam Darnold] here I just put my foot in my mouth," noted new Panthers offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo in his first Carolina press conference on April 19. "That wasn't some thing I should have referred to."
Projected starting RB: Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey led the NFL in scrimmage yards in his first three seasons (5,443) and changed into 2d in scrimmage TDs (39, behind only Todd Gurley's 54) from 2017-19. He has ignored 23 games seeing that 2020 with ankle (eleven video games), hamstring (5 games), quadricep (four games), and shoulder (3 video games) accidents.
McCaffrey's NFL professiongames
forty eight
10
Scrimmage yards
5,443 (led NFL)
1,159
Scrimmage TDs
39
eight
amongst running backs within the 2017-19 seasons, McCaffrey ranked fifth in the NFL in dashing yards (2,920), tied for eighth in dashing TDs (24), tied for first in receiving TDs (15) and led the league in receiving yards (2,523). he's the simplest participant in NFL heritage with 2,500+ dashing yards and a couple of,500+ receiving yards in his first three seasons.
good wide receivers: D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson
Moore haas 1,a hundred or more receiving yards in each of the final three seasons when you consider that 2019, making him considered one of three players in the NFL to achieve this in that span along with expenses vast receiver Stefon Diggs and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Anderson has 14 receiving touchdowns of 30+ yards for the reason that coming into the NFL in 2016, tied for the third-most within the NFL in that span with Antonio Brown.
Most receiving TDs of 30+ yards since 2016Tyreek Hill 27Amari Cooper 16Robby Anderson 14Antonio Brown 14Tyler Lockett 13Mike Evans 13Brandin Cooks 13
Seattle SeahawksQB force fee allowed in 2021: 37.7% (thirtieth)2022 first-circular draft prefer: Mississippi State OT Charles cross (9th typical)Play-motion circulate rate in 2021: 17.2% (12th)Projected beginning QB: Drew Lock/Geno SmithCurrent QB commitment degree: content material however now not fully satisfied
"We're all the time competing," Pete Carroll said on may additionally 5 on sports Radio ninety three.3 KJR FM. "i'm no longer announcing the rest you did not feel i used to be going to assert, but happily that is always been the way we have now operated, and it suits again. So we're looking. I do not see us making a change for anybody at all. I don't see that going on. however we're definitely going to proceed to be open to chances to assist our membership, and in the meantime we're just going to be combating and competing our tails off. there may be at all times possibilities, so we preserve open to that."
Projected beginning RB: Rashaad Penny
within the last five weeks of 2021, Penny led the NFL in dashing yards (671), yards per rush (7.3) and co-led the NFL in speeding touchdowns (6, with Damien Harris) and video games with 100+ rushing yards (four, with Jonathan Taylor).
Penny's NFL professionRushes per online game
5.9
18.4
rushing yards per video game
28.2
134.2
Yards per rush
4.8
7.3
dashing TDs
5
6
a hundred-plus yard video games
2
four
true extensive receivers: DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett
Metcalf has 29 career receiving touchdowns considering that entering the NFL in 2019, tied for the fifth-most in the NFL in that span with Cooper Kupp.
Most receiving TDs in view that 2019Mike Evans 35Davante Adams 34Tyreek Hill 31Adam Thielen 30DK Metcalf 29Cooper Kupp 29Tyler Lockett 26Mark Andrews 26
Tyler Lockett has 15 receiving TDs of 30+ yards in view that entering the NFL in 2015, tied for the fifth-most within the NFL in that span with Antonio Brown and DeSean Jackson.
Most receiving TDs of 30+ yards given that 2015Tyreek Hill 27Amari Cooper 18Odell Beckham Jr. 17Brandin Cooks 17 Tyler Lockett 15Antonio Brown 15DeSean Jackson 15
Conclusion: Mayfield's top-rated healthy is with Panthersboth teams have offensive traces that are in the system of being transformed and have identical electricity of schedules in 2022 (The Seahawks have the 11th-hardest and Panthers have 12th-hardest schedules in response to 2021 opponent win percent).
The Seahawks have the aspect at large receiver as Robby Anderson is rarely near the level of both Lockett or Metcalf. besides the fact that children, two key areas tilt issues within the Panthers' choose: Christian McCaffrey and the teams on the Panthers' agenda.
When healthy, the Panthers Swiss army running again is arguably the most beneficial stress-reliever a quarterback may ask for due to the fact that he's capable of grind teams up on the floor besides being purchasable for brief, check-down passes that magically develop into first downs. His 2,467 receiving yards after the capture from 2017-2019 have been the most in the NFL. whereas Rashaad Penny performed like probably the most premiere operating backs in football over the last 5 video games of closing season, there isn't any proof to imply that his dash to the 2021 season conclude line is some thing he will repeat or come near when inspecting his career in its entirety.
as far as the time table part, the NFC West had three playoff groups: the super Bowl Champion los angeles Rams, NFC runner-up San Francisco 49ers and Kyler Murray's Arizona Cardinals. as a substitute of getting to play those three groups a mixed six times, Mayfield would face the rebuilding Falcons twice and the Saints twice, whose quarterback Jameis Winston is coming off a torn ACL. sure, Tom Brady's Buccaneers are only as scary as those NFC West foes. If Mayfield and the Browns get their hope of a alternate coming via to take the former appropriate overall decide on of Cleveland, Carolina would deliver the landing spot for Baker to have the most advantageous possibility for success in his 2nd act.
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