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Baker Mayfield should demand a trade to one of these three NFL teams

By Sayre Bedinger

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield heads to the locker room following a 37-14 loss against the Arizona Cardinals at FirstEnergy Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. Baker's streak of 53 consecutive starts will come to an end on Thursday as Case Keenum has been named the starter for the Browns' matchup against the Denver Broncos.Bakertunnel
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield heads to the locker room following a 37-14 loss against the Arizona Cardinals at FirstEnergy Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. Baker's streak of 53 consecutive starts will come to an end on Thursday as Case Keenum has been named the starter for the Browns' matchup against the Denver Broncos.Bakertunnel /
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Baker Mayfield, NFL Trade Rumors
NFL Trade Rumors: Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) walks off the field with the team before the game between the Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. (:Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports) /

The Cleveland Browns need to figure out a way to trade quarterback Baker Mayfield. The former Heisman winner and top pick should target a few teams.

With less than a month now until the 2022 NFL Draft, the clock is ticking for the Cleveland Browns to trade quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Speaking purely in terms of the football aspect of things, it’s understandable that the Browns went after Deshaun Watson. They believe he is a clear upgrade now and into the future over Mayfield, and they paid the price to get him in the building.

Now, it’s time to “do right” by Baker Mayfield by letting him choose his next destination in a trade. The unfortunate aspect of that is, teams aren’t necessarily lining up to trade for Mayfield and his $18.9 million salary for the 2022 season.

Trading Baker Mayfield is complicated, but it’s also not

The Browns were part of a trade not too long ago where they absorbed Brock Osweiler and the remainder of his hilarious contract with the Houston Texans, and they were willing to do that because Houston was willing to pay them in draft picks to take that salary off their books.

Could Cleveland be willing to do the same or something similar this time around with Baker Mayfield?

That may be a stretch, but this team should be willing to do whatever it takes to get Mayfield to a great situation, and Mayfield should have at least some say in where he plays next.

The Browns are undoubtedly holding out for someone to offer them something of value in exchange for Mayfield, and understandably so. But they’ve also just acquired their QB of the present and future in Deshaun Watson. Nobody is under any sort of illusion that the Browns will be keeping Mayfield much longer and they may have to eventually cut him with how little leverage they actually have.

Mayfield was the number one pick in the NFL Draft just four years ago. He’s only going to be 27 this season. He’s talented and has shown some really good things as an NFL player, along with plenty bad.

It’s at least a little surprising that some team hasn’t paid up to acquire him yet but that will eventually happen. Which teams should Mayfield be trying to get to at this point?

Let’s take a look at three.

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