When the Browns received word that Deshaun Watson had chosen them as his new club, there was celebration all around the front office. And then somebody asked what would the team do with their incumbent quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Oh, yeh.
Certainly it is not good business to keep the guy to play alongside the guy you paid a king’s ransom to replace you. Not to mention Cleveland had exercised the fifth-year option on Mayfield who is now set to make $18.86 million in 2022. GM Andrew Berry shipped off former backup QB Case Keenum and his $6 million salary for cheaper labor so the last thing he wants is for the new backup to be making over $18 million.