Getty Image / Mike Ehrmann
When the Cleveland Browns made Baker Mayfield the number-one overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, they hoped they had finally figured out the quarterback woes that had haunted the franchise since their reintroduction in 1998. But, they moved on from Baker Mayfield following a disappointing 2021 season, and they acquired a guy with serious baggage but a lot of past production in Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
But, Baker Mayfield has found a home in Tampa, excelled there last season, and got off to a fantastic start to this season on Sunday. Meanwhile, Deshaun Watson’s masssive struggles continued, and the Browns have made a serious mistake.
When the Browns traded for Deshaun Watson, they were trading for a guy that had been one of the league’s better quarterbacks. But, he was coming off an injury and a scandal involving alleged improper sexual conduct with Houston-area massage therapists. Despite both of those things,they gave him a five-year, $230 million, fully guaranteed contract.
After serving an 11-game suspension in 2022, he underwhelmed in his return to football. Then, last season, he had just 7 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in six really unimpressive starts as mysterious injuries sidelined him for most of the season.
The Browns were hoping to get a fresh start out of Watson in their season-opener at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Instead, they got a disastrous performance. Watson had a QBR of 9 on a 100-point scale, threw two interceptions, fumbled, was sacked six times, and had less than four yards per attempt, a truly putrid number. The Browns were beaten, 33-17, in a game that was not as close as the score suggests.
Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield made the Pro Bowl last season, leading Tampa to a surprise NFC South title and a playoff win. On Sunday, he picked up right where he left off. He completed 24/30 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns in a near-flawless performance against the Commanders. Mayfield looked every bit like a true franchise quarterback. At just 29, he could be a great player for the Buccaneers for a half-dozen years, or more.
Meanwhile, the Browns are stuck with a great roster, good head coach, and a terrible contract for a bad and unlikeable player. They should’ve stayed the course with Mayfield, who got them to the playoffs in 2020 with an impressive season. They’re living with the consequences of that decision right now.