20 NFL bold predictions after the 2022 NFL Draft
By Randy Gurzi
13. Baker Mayfield doesn’t take a snap in 2022
The Baker Mayfield saga has gotten really bad.
A former No. 1 overall pick, Mayfield helped re-energize the entire Cleveland Browns franchise. He was a huge part of their success in 2020 when they won 11 games and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs.
But then in 2021, things fell apart. Mayfield suffered a shoulder injury that ended up affecting his throwing motion and then he appeared to have lost his confidence. Then, he lost the locker room when Odell Beckham, Jr. was released following his dad sharing a video of Mayfield failing to get the ball to a wide-open OBJ time and again.
Following the season, Cleveland said they were committed to Mayfield but then that changed when they were able to land Deshaun Watson. Mayfield now remains with the team as they’ve failed to find a trade partner — and his best landing spots have all dried up.
With teams such as Seattle, Pittsburgh, and even Carolina reportedly moving on, it’s become apparent that Mayfield won’t have a starting job in 2022. His best bet is likely to join a team such as Tampa Bay which can use a young understudy behind Tom Brady — but he may need to hold out for a release for this to even be possible.
Either way, it looks more likely than ever that Baker Mayfield might not take a single snap in the 2022 season, which would be a shocker considering how high his stock was heading into the 2021 campaign.