REPORT: Baker Deal Nearly Done

[fullquartpress]

Ask Steeler fans if Baker can play.

OK, I'll ask Steeler fans.
Meanwhile, why are 31 of 32 teams not interested in this (apparetnly) no risk, no cost option?
(just for example, why doesn't Sirianni want him in Philly, or why doesn't Dabol want him in NYC...or Lovie Smith in Houston?

 

[rcaido]

If Mayfield has a good year(playoff), he will want a top 10 QB money. Which is 40+million which i doubt we will pay. If he turns out to be what we think he will be, 8-9 guy, then that too will be just a wasted year with a mediocre draft positions.

Lets just run it with Geno or Lock.

 

[chrispy]

...reading about how awful Mayfield is...

I don't really ever watch the Browns. I can't say from personal observance. But I found the following pretty interesting.

The Browns went from a record of 4-44 in three seasons pre-Mayfield, to 30-31 in his 4 years playing there. That's a win improvement of about 40%.

I'm not advocating anything, just a relevant point.

 

[keasley45]

If Mayfield has a good year(playoff), he will want a top 10 QB money. Which is 40+million which i doubt we will pay. If he turns out to be what we think he will be, 8-9 guy, then that too will be just a wasted year with a mediocre draft positions.

Lets just run it with Geno or Lock.

Agree

 

[JayhawkMike]

OK, I'll ask Steeler fans.
Meanwhile, why are 31 of 32 teams not interested in this (apparetnly) no risk, no cost option?
(just for example, why doesn't Sirianni want him in Philly, or why doesn't Dabol want him in NYC...or Lovie Smith in Houston?

why did every team pass on Russell Wilson in the draft? Using the “no other team…” argument is not really an argument at all.

 

[fullquartpress]

why did every team pass on Russell Wilson in the draft? Using the “no other team…” argument is not really an argument at all.

Comparing evaluation of draft prospects with evaluation of 4 year veterans seems quite different, to me.

 

[IndyHawk]

I think it's the opposite.

When Watson gets suspended, and he WILL get suspended Mayfield holds all the leverage. Why on earth would he want to go back to the Browns with his tail between his legs when he can force a trade or release so he can go to a team that actually wants and appreciates him.

Either way he's playing in 2022 for his next contract. Why on earth would he do it in Cleveland? No way that's happening.

The Browns can just pay him and he goes and plays nowhere.
His next contract is a prove it deal next season.

 

[John63]

The difference between no one being interested in Baker now and Wilson as a draftee is we have a body of work for Baker and not a good one.

 

[John63]

Comparing evaluation of draft prospects with evaluation of 4 year veterans seems quite different, to me.

It is with the draftee you don't know how they will perform in the NFL with a guy with 4 years you do to some extent.

 

[Rosco]

why did every team pass on Russell Wilson in the draft? Using the “no other team…” argument is not really an argument at all.

It is when accept the fact that Baker has been a starter in the NFL the past 3 seasons. Every team in the league knows Baker’s a bust.

 

[Welshers]

The difference between no one being interested in Baker now and Wilson as a draftee is we have a body of work for Baker and not a good one.

John does this mean you unblocked me? I want to repent for all my Wilson jokes. You are a great poster and I never meant it seriously!

 

[IndyHawk]

Yeah, a lot of people don't like me on here, and that's fine. It's just a message board. And I'm aware that I can be an a**. I just don't take a message board too seriously or personal. Most of us don't actually know each other. I think we all love this team, that's what's a hell of a lot more important than silly arguments.

 

[keasley45]

Anybody catch the Stanley Cup finals the other night? Helluva game.

 

[Own The West]

If I'm the Seahawks, I look at it as I have 200 (or so) preseason snaps to determine who my starting QB is and get them ready for the season. Do I increase my chances of success by splitting those snaps 3 ways instead of two? Also, I need to decide if I resign all the QBs I bring in at the end of the season.

Bringing in Mayfield means nobody gets a chance to fully prove themselves preseason, then I have to pony up more years/money than I want to if I want to keep Lock/Mayfield even though I've only really seen one of them play. This seems like a risky, losing strategy to me.

Logistically, I'd stick with the two I have until I can determine Lock isn't going to make the jump. Financially, I know I can get Geno back for $3.5M again, so if Lock doesn't work out I can let him walk. Mayfield will be available again in 2023 as will a handful of promising rookies.

 

[BlueTalon]

The Browns can just pay him and he goes and plays nowhere.
His next contract is a prove it deal next season.

Correct me if I'm wrong about this, but I think Mayfield has to be on the roster for the Browns to have any control over where Mayfield plays or doesn't play. It's perhaps a moot point now, but when the rosters are cut to 53 players, that will be a big deal. I doubt Cleveland will devote a roster spot to Mayfield just to keep him from playing somewhere else. Once he's not on the roster (i.e., they cut him), he can play with whatever team will sign him.

 

[Boohman14]

I think this is just smoke put out by the Browns to put pressure on Carolina. I don't think the Panthers are taking the bait. Anyway I don't think the Seahawks are energized by Mayfield.

My true hope is that the Brown cut Mayfield and Pittsburgh picks him up. That way the Browns can face Mayfield with a huge chip on his shoulder twice a year . The Browns are making Houston's front office look competent.

 

[IndyHawk]

Correct me if I'm wrong about this, but I think Mayfield has to be on the roster for the Browns to have any control over where Mayfield plays or doesn't play. It's perhaps a moot point now, but when the rosters are cut to 53 players, that will be a big deal. I doubt Cleveland will devote a roster spot to Mayfield just to keep him from playing somewhere else. Once he's not on the roster (i.e., they cut him), he can play with whatever team will sign him.

He's still there and they can decide to just sit him with pay..
It's the Browns they do weird stuff like trading for a guy who
after this season has not played in over 34 games.

 

[fullquartpress]

It is with the draftee you don't know how they will perform in the NFL with a guy with 4 years you do to some extent.

Yes, and Frank Reich(or Ballard...or Irsay) may have other reasons for prefering Matt Ryan. Lovie may be sold on Davis Mills, and Nick S sold on Hurts(or maybe Minshew).
The 'Locked on Seahawks' guy basically said 'when', not if, Baker lands at SeaTac, so maybe Baker can make commercials for Our Bill.
I'm just glad it's Jody's money(or JS's money) and not mine,
Baker did play well at times:
2021 Wildcard, his receivers dropped most of the passes, but Baker survived to endure defeat, following week, to....Chad Henne.
Baker was good in Dallas(2020).
2021 in LA, Justin Herbert was better than anyone, and Baker's chance at the end was almost as tough as Drew Lock's end of game chance vs Bengals last year. (I think Broncos had a 4th and 29 for the final play in that game, which also had Drew Lock's worst turnover: having the ball taken away by a Bengal lineman, who was 'down by contact'...but that missed possession really gave the Bengals the win.

 

[BlueTalon]

He's still there and they can decide to just sit him with pay..
It's the Browns they do weird stuff like trading for a guy who
after this season has not played in over 34 games.

I know he's still there now. And they have to pay him regardless, unless that burden is assumed by some other team.

But if he's still there during the regular season, that costs them a spot on the 53 man roster, right?

 

[FattyKnuckle]

OK, I'll ask Steeler fans.
Meanwhile, why are 31 of 32 teams not interested in this (apparetnly) no risk, no cost option?
(just for example, why doesn't Sirianni want him in Philly, or why doesn't Dabol want him in NYC...or Lovie Smith in Houston?

For one thing probably 25 of them have a QB already, so that's a pretty disingenuous argument.