Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

[Surge]

With the season over, I think we can all pretty much agree that Baker sucked..

Going into next year the biggest question that need answered will be—

Do Browns think 2021 Baker or 2020 Baker is closer to the norm?

If 2020, then do the Browns believe his play and relationship is salvageable?

If 2021, is there a suitable upgrade in play?

The thing that complicates the latter is potential cap impact trading away Baker (clears the cap but who gives up value for him) and the cap impact of taking on an incoming QB (say Kirk Cousins) on top of the draft capital exchanging hands to upgrade the QB spot…

Berry is on record saying QB is the most important spot on the roster and they must do everything they can to support it.. If that’s the case, it may be losing draft capital and cap space to upgrade from Baker… Which is why I think the comments that have come out about Baker exists because it’s a muddy picture as far as what’s out there and what exactly it would take to make an upgrade..

I look at the Rams' situation, and yet they continued to find ways to add players and navigate the cap. Same with Tampa.

We are in a much better position cap-wise, and cap flexibility doesn't win ball games (Not saying you ARE saying that). Teams find ways to get it done year after year. I understand the dream is to win now and stay as fiscally flexible as possible, but this team is ready to win now. Several deep playoff runs with the possibility at a Super Bowl outweigh the following few years of a rebuild. Cleveland fans were built to withstand rebuilds, especially if the cost was being an elite team for as long as possible.

 

[Smooth]

I look at the Rams' situation, and yet they continued to find ways to add players and navigate the cap. Same with Tampa.

We are in a much better position cap-wise, and cap flexibility doesn't win ball games (Not saying you ARE saying that). Teams find ways to get it done year after year. I understand the dream is to win now and stay as fiscally flexible as possible, but this team is ready to win now. Several deep playoff runs with the possibility at a Super Bowl outweigh the following few years of a rebuild. Cleveland fans were built to withstand rebuilds, especially if the cost was being an elite team for as long as possible.

I agree and we’ve seen the Browns be pretty creative and considerate to how they structure contracts with respect to their cap space and flexibility…

Not saying cap hit/space will deter them from making a move, just merely saying it’s likely to be part of the equation when looking at alternatives to Baker..

Some of the veteran options that would be an upgrade to Baker carry a much larger cap hit and the advantage of carrying a QB on his rookie salary would be forfeited.. Not saying it’ll drive the decision but just alters the approach…

As simple as we want to make it, it’s not just swapping Baker for XYZ QB… It’s Baker + draft capital + cap space for QB.. So more so curious how they weigh that equation and the variables involved with it..

 

[Bkerr02]

I agree and we’ve seen the Browns be pretty creative and considerate to how they structure contracts with respect to their cap space and flexibility…

Not saying cap hit/space will deter them from making a move, just merely saying it’s likely to be part of the equation when looking at alternatives to Baker..

Some of the veteran options that would be an upgrade to Baker carry a much larger cap hit and the advantage of carrying a QB on his rookie salary would be forfeited.. Not saying it’ll drive the decision but just alters the approach…

As simple as we want to make it, it’s not just swapping Baker for XYZ QB… It’s Baker + draft capital + cap space for QB.. So more so curious how they weigh that equation and the variables involved with it..

Chances are if it’s a significant upgrade like a Wilson, Rodgers Watson they would be willing to make that change plus the cap hit. Marginal upgrades like jimmy G and others mention just aren’t worth the cap hit plus assets when a healthy Baker could easily be better than those type of guys anyways. Berry is a very smart guy. He won’t make a decision based on emotion.

 

[CBBI]

With the season over, I think we can all pretty much agree that Baker sucked..

Going into next year the biggest question that need answered will be—

Do Browns think 2021 Baker or 2020 Baker is closer to the norm?

If 2020, then do the Browns believe his play and relationship is salvageable?

If 2021, is there a suitable upgrade in play?

The thing that complicates the latter is potential cap impact trading away Baker (clears the cap but who gives up value for him) and the cap impact of taking on an incoming QB (say Kirk Cousins) on top of the draft capital exchanging hands to upgrade the QB spot…

Berry is on record saying QB is the most important spot on the roster and they must do everything they can to support it.. If that’s the case, it may be losing draft capital and cap space to upgrade from Baker… Which is why I think the comments that have come out about Baker exists because it’s a muddy picture as far as what’s out there and what exactly it would take to make an upgrade..

Good post.

My only disagreement is that I believe that the Browns could be completely confident that Baker will play closer to how he played in 2020 than 2021 moving forward and still be interested in moving on from him.

Why? Because I don't think the Browns feel that 2020 Baker, while good, is good enough to ultimately take them where they want to go.

The thing I keep going back to is not just the lack of a contract extension, but the complete lack of desire from the Browns to even negotiate a contract extension.

If the Browns thought Baker's 2020 performance was good enough to win them a Super Bowl, then there's no reason at all why they should have avoided even discussing a contract extension before the 2021 season, right?

If the Browns believe 2021 is a complete fluke due to injuries, wouldn't they at least be willing to discuss a new deal right now?

Every single thing that the Browns have done in regards to Baker and his future says "we don't believe in you, but might be forced to stick with you" and is just not a place I want to be as a fan.

This is your guy or he isn't.

 

[DatDudeZ3]

Cousins >> Mayfield

In a majority of categories

 

[Steve_424]

 

[CBBI]

This is my thought exactly.

Being willing to kick the can down the road at QB is not super confidence inspiring.

 

[Steve_424]

Cousins >> Mayfield

In a majority of categories

But is Cousins making $35 M more valuable than Mayfield making $19 M? Plus the draft capital you'd need to give up for him?

This is more complex than player A is better than player B.

 

[sailfish]

Wow, I hope this is spin to preserve his trade value cause Baker sucks. He's had one good half a season (latter half of 2020) in the last 3. This front office is either alot dumber than I thought they were or they're playing poker.

 

[CBBI]

But is Cousins making $35 M more valuable than Mayfield making $19 M? Plus the draft capital you'd need to give up for him?

This is more complex than player A is better than player B.

First question: Yes
Second question: Still yes, because you'd theoretically be able to recoup some (all?) of those outgoing draft assets by trading away Mayfield.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I'll quickly speak in generalities with Baker - Fans tend to want wholesale and drastic change far sooner than a franchise is willing to consider wholesale change.

I can apply this concept to Stefanski's play-calling or Joe Woods defensive concepts just as easily. Fans see a few things go wrong and make drastic change.

That isn't how a well-run organization works. There are small personnel at the bottom than can be changed as an experiment first.

Offensive line depth and talent at the receiver position were just as impactful as Baker's poise in the pocket. Do they both need work? Probably, but it's way easier to say you want a top ten QB replacing Baker than landing a top ten QB. Cousins is a great example - he seemed to be a second tier QB in Washington. Once he left for Minnesota, it became clear his circumstances made him seem much better than he actually could be without them.

I look to how the 49ers slowly moved away from Jimmy G. The fans wanted him out after the awful playoff run in 2019/2020. In 2020, the team picked a receiver in the first round and brought in Trent Williams. When that wasn't the answer, they quietly knocked on some doors for a definite vet upgrade. They finally settled on a trade-up for a QB project to groom. I'm not saying the Browns will follow that exact path since Baker is on a rookie contract, but they will look at small change before wholesale change... and fans will complain about it.

 

[CBBI]

 

[DatDudeZ3]

But is Cousins making $35 M more valuable than Mayfield making $19 M? Plus the draft capital you'd need to give up for him?

This is more complex than player A is better than player B.

100%

If we had Cousins this year we win at least 2-3 more games and are in the playoffs

 

[WellYouNeednt]

I'll quickly speak in generalities with Baker - Fans tend to want wholesale and drastic change far sooner than a franchise is willing to consider wholesale change.

I can apply this concept to Stefanski's play-calling or Joe Woods defensive concepts just as easily. Fans see a few things go wrong and make drastic change.

That isn't how a well-run organization works. There are small personnel at the bottom than can be changed as an experiment first.

Offensive line depth and talent at the receiver position were just as impactful as Baker's poise in the pocket. Do they both need work? Probably, but it's way easier to say you want a top ten QB replacing Baker than landing a top ten QB. Cousins is a great example - he seemed to be a second tier QB in Washington. Once he left for Minnesota, it became clear his circumstances made him seem much better than he actually could be without them.

I look to how the 49ers slowly moved away from Jimmy G. The fans wanted him out after the awful playoff run in 2019/2020. In 2020, the team picked a receiver in the first round and brought in Trent Williams. When that wasn't the answer, they quietly knocked on some doors for a definite vet upgrade. They finally settled on a trade-up for a QB project to groom. I'm not saying the Browns will follow that exact path since Baker is on a rookie contract, but they will look at small change before wholesale change... and fans will complain about it.

By in large i find most fans know more than the coaches, GMs and owners. The amazing part is, that experience is derived from not having any high school, collegiate or NFL experience playing, coaching or managing water bottle duties. I find ESPN trade apps, emotion and Madden to be far more valuable tools at learning to make decisions on coaching and managing an professional organization.

 

[Vee-Rex]

This is my thought exactly.

Being willing to kick the can down the road at QB is not super confidence inspiring.

I would only view it as kicking the can down the road if they can make a move for a QB they like as an upgrade and didn't pull the trigger.

It's entirely possible they actively search but can't reliably upgrade and decide that there is still a chance for Mayfield to be an above-average QB, and roll with that for 2022.