Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

[Real Deal]

Playcalling was bad, WRs were bad (they dropped a ton of passes for the low amount of Baker's attempts)
and Baker was bad.

Get Hunt back to being healthy. He's proved to be a big piece.

Draft a prolific WR.

Draft another WR.

Draft a TE.

Bring Landry back on cheaper deal.

We are not getting Wilson, Rodgers, Brady, Watson, or Carr, but you might be able to snag Jimmy G. Probably gonna start out as costing a 1st. If team makes playoffs or whatnot, pick turns into a 1st type of stuff.

Run it back with Baker and see if his pattern finally evens out for the better.

 

[ShawnKempIsMyDad]

Playcalling was bad, WRs were bad (they dropped a ton of passes for the low amount of Baker's attempts)
and Baker was bad.

Get Hunt back to being healthy. He's proved to be a big piece.

Draft a prolific WR.

Draft another WR.

Draft a TE.

Bring Landry back on cheaper deal.

We are not getting Wilson, Rodgers, Brady, Watson, or Carr, but you might be able to snag Jimmy G. Probably gonna start out as costing a 1st. If team makes playoffs or whatnot, pick turns into a 1st type of stuff.

Run it back with Baker and see if his pattern finally evens out for the better.

I think this is really what is key here. We HAVE to draft receivers. We trot out a bunch of back-ups and Landry every week and expect to be successful.

 

[Scrote Squad]

I think this is really what is key here. We HAVE to draft receivers. We trot out a bunch of back-ups and Landry every week and expect to be successful.

It doesn't matter who trots on the field as long as Baker continues missing reads and double clutching wide open guys.

 

[prf100]

The season's lack of success boils down to Baker. Was it because Baker was injured? Or is he just not good enough?

I do think his injuries limited him dramatically, and things only got worse as he attempted to compensate, which created bad habits, which led to mistakes, which lead to trusting his eyes even less, double-clutching even more.

I don't see an upgrade option available to the team, unless you want to take on Cousins and his contract - even that depends on who is hired in Minnesota.

With that in mind, the best option as this stage is for Baker to heal up, and hope those bad habits came as a result of the injuries, not a lack of competence or skill.

Only time will tell.

 

[Surge]

The season's lack of success boils down to Baker. Was it because Baker was injured? Or is he just not good enough?

I do think his injuries limited him dramatically, and things only got worse as he attempted to compensate, which created bad habits, which led to mistakes, which lead to trusting his eyes even less, double-clutching even more.

I don't see an upgrade option available to the team, unless you want to take on Cousins and his contract - even that depends on who is hired in Minnesota.

With that in mind, the best option as this stage is for Baker to heal up, and hope those bad habits came as a result of the injuries, not a lack of competence or skill.

Only time will tell.

Yep. So the most likely course is to retool the WR/TE rooms and if Baker is the guy next year, great. If he's not, then lets create an attractive place for a new QB to want to be.

 

[CBBI]

The season's lack of success boils down to Baker. Was it because Baker was injured? Or is he just not good enough?

I do think his injuries limited him dramatically, and things only got worse as he attempted to compensate, which created bad habits, which led to mistakes, which lead to trusting his eyes even less, double-clutching even more.

I don't see an upgrade option available to the team, unless you want to take on Cousins and his contract - even that depends on who is hired in Minnesota.

With that in mind, the best option as this stage is for Baker to heal up, and hope those bad habits came as a result of the injuries, not a lack of competence or skill.

Only time will tell.

Of course Baker was worse in 2021 than 2020 because of injuries. I don't think anyone is suggesting otherwise.

The question is, can Baker play better than he did in 2020? Because that's what the Browns ultimately need him to be. Just being closer to 2020 isn't good enough.

 

[Steve_424]

100%

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

I would argue the same if you have a healthy Baker.

 

[daddywags]

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.

Rams haven't lost anything except one 3rd round pick at this point. Plus, Stafford only cost $20 million in cap, not 35.

 

[Surge]

Rams haven't lost anything except one 3rd round pick at this point. Plus, Stafford only cost $20 million in cap, not 35.

I was speaking more to the Rams overall devaluing of draft picks and still being able to add talent while working with the cap, but it includes Stafford as well.

They traded their 2016 and 2017 first-round picks to move up for Goff. Traded their 2018 first-round pick for Brandin Cooks. Traded out of the first round for later picks in 2019. Traded their 2021 and 2022 first for Jalen Ramsey, and their 2022 and 23 first round picks (and a 3rd) for Stafford (Yes part of the value was swapping Goff's contract. Not sure what you mean by "They've only lost a 3rd."

I meant the post as a "Don't be afraid to use assets to get the QB that will win now." If one of the clear upgrades comes available, you pay the price, IMO. And if they think that's Cousins, then you do what it takes to make it work financially.

 

[daddywags]

I was speaking more to the Rams overall devaluing of draft picks and still being able to add talent while working with the cap, but it includes Stafford as well.

They traded their 2016 and 2017 first-round picks to move up for Goff. Traded their 2018 first-round pick for Brandin Cooks. Traded out of the first round for later picks in 2019. Traded their 2021 and 2022 first for Jalen Ramsey, and their 2022 and 23 first round picks (and a 3rd) for Stafford (Yes part of the value was swapping Goff's contract. Not sure what you mean by "They've only lost a 3rd."

I meant the post as a "Don't be afraid to use assets to get the QB that will win now." If one of the clear upgrades comes available, you pay the price, IMO. And if they think that's Cousins, then you do what it takes to make it work financially.

Point taken. What I meant was they haven't lost any first round picks yet in upgrading from Goff to Stafford. Personally I hate devaluing draft picks. It brings back nightmares of Phil Savage and Brady Quinn. But I certainly appreciate the nearly priceless value of a true franchise quarterback.

 

[Los216]

I would argue the same if you have a healthy Baker.

He was healthy enough to play. He even played well against CIN. So what do injuries have to do with his performance down the stretch?

 

[DJTJ]

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.

I agree with this.

I also think this is sort of the point. I personally will roll with 2020 Baker as the best case, but I’m not doing it at 35 million.

The question has never been (and shouldn’t be) if Baker is/isnt the answer as much as it is if he’s worth the next contract.

He’s not. If Baker came to the table and was like hey, I’ll extend my deal two years for a limited amount near his 5th year option the Browns overnight the contract. That’s why we haven’t seen an extension. Baker is worth his current contract. He’s not worth his next.

 

[Steve_424]

He was healthy enough to play. He even played well against CIN. So what do injuries have to do with his performance down the stretch?

...are you being serious?

 

[Vee-Rex]

...are you being serious?

@Los216

 

[Surge]

Maybe we're getting a whole new level to the "Cycle of Baker Mayfiepd play."

In before BEST SHAPE OF MY LIFE!