MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Touched on this last week when discussing Jimmy G, but after Wentz Chris Ballard is not in a position to make some high wire move trading major assets for a major risk player. I mean the very notion that you could get a 1st round pick for Mayfield at this point is just laughable right off the bat. But even if you could, Ballard wouldn't be the one taking that bet.

Totally agree they want to try and swing something for an upper mid round pick this year if pos with the second year pick being majorly contingent on performance. Then they have a hedge.

 

Thats really not a bad shout.

 

There’s a report out that Deshaun is going to choose between New Orleans and Atlanta.

If Cleveland is going to move Baker then they need to go after Carolina immediately. Trading Mayfield and a second for the Panthers first and third would be ideal, but Baker’s market may be to frosty for that.

 

There's a report also that Kyle Pitts tweeted something that is leading some to think Watson is choosing the Falcons... if thats the case Matt Ryan will be traded today also. At least thats the scuttlebutt at the moment.

 

Browns now have no watson and likely a disgruntled Baker. Browns doing Browns stuff classic.

 

JuJu, is that you ???

 

Baker wants out, but Cleveland is saying, no at the present time. The Browns thought they were going to land Watson, but that fell through, so now the Browns are not accommodating Bakers trade request according to the infamous Mary Kay Cabot. Take that for what its worth.

 

Report: Panthers out of Deshaun Watson sweepstakes

The Deshaun Watson sweepstakes is down to two teams. Atlanta or New Orleans? New Orleans or Atlanta?

The Panthers were informed they are out on a trade for the Texans quarterback, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports. The Browns were eliminated earlier in the day.


That leaves the Falcons and Saints in the running for Watson unless a surprise team enters the bidding before Watson makes his decision. Watson has a no trade clause, allowing him to dictate where he goes.

With Matt Ryan agreeing to delay the $7.5 million roster bonus he was due from Friday to Tuesday, Watson will have more time to decide.

Watson, 26, did not play last season as the Texans paid him his $10.54 million base salary while making him inactive for all 17 games. The three-time Pro Bowler led the league in passing in 2020, though Houston won only four games.

PFT

 

I never allowed myself to get too wraped up in this Watson thing. What were the odds of him coming to NOLA? This morning it's 50/50. I'll take those odds.

 

****BREAKING****

Deshaun Watson chooses the Browns



They were out. Until they weren’t.

The Cleveland Browns will acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson, per multiple reports. As of Thursday, Watson had informed the Browns that they were out of the running.


So what changed Watson’s mind? How about, per NFL Media, a five-year, $230 million contract that is fully guaranteed?

Money always talks. The Browns, faced with a mess between themselves and Baker Mayfield, needed a way out. So threw offered Watson $46 million per year on a five-year, guaranteed contract. And that likely trumped every other offer that was on the table.

That said, the contract may include a clause that voids the guarantees in the event of a suspension. Watson is currently facing a potential punishment under the Personal Conduct Policy for the 22 civil lawsuits still pending against him.

It’s a stunning turn of events, and it gives the Browns another new name to add to the back of that jersey listing all the quarterbacks since 1999. This one, they hope, will be the last one for a long time.

Meanwhile, with Watson previously choosing between the Saints and Falcons, this sort of counts as the latest defection of highly-talented players from the NFC to the AFC. Currently, the AFC is stacked with great teams. The Browns have gotten considerably greater today.

PFT

 

The deals were put in place before the four teams that met with Deshaun Watson received permission to do so. It’s now clear that the asking price remained very high, even after Watson didn’t play football for an entire year.

Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reports that the Browns will send the Texans three first-round picks plus two other draft choices, on day two or three of the draft. In all, it’s five draft picks for Watson.


Last year, it was believed that the Texans wanted three first-round picks plus multiple players.

Presumably, the Saints, Panthers, and Falcons had similar if not identical offers on the table. Once Watson made his decision to go to Cleveland (after ruling them out on Thursday), it all fell together quickly.

 

Watson is the most talented QB the Browns have had. Whether not they can stomach the allegations is a different matter.

 

I didn't think the Saints would let him get away over salary cap stuff. But they can't do this kinda cash.

 

Oh well. It was fun while it lasted. Back to the drawing board.

 

Report: Baker Mayfield informs Browns he wants trade to Colts



Baker Mayfield has gone from requesting a trade from the Browns to making a specific preference of destination. Only minutes after Deshaun Watson chose the Browns came word from Jeff Howe of TheAthletic.com that Mayfield has informed the Browns he wants to play for the Colts.

Watson’s decision now clears the way for the quarterback carousel to begin spinning again. Watson was the most accomplished quarterback left available, so teams in need of a quarterback were waiting for word of his trade.


The Colts, Saints, Seahawks and Panthers remain quarterback needy.

Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo are available via trade, with Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Andy Dalton among the available free agents at the position.

The Browns surely would prefer trading Mayfield out of the AFC, but like Watson, he might end up staying in the conference.

The Colts rejoined the quarterback market after trading Carson Wentz to the Commanders.

Mayfield, 26, is under contract for 2022 at his fifth-year option of $18.86 million. He underwent surgery on his non-throwing shoulder in January.

PFT

 

Well, that was a wicked twist on the perceived eventuality of where Deshaun would be throwing the football in 2022...

I'm gonna post up some thoughts on it in a couple minutes, but there is a lot to dive into so it may take a few posts to get around to the entirety of my opinion.

 

I'll open with some questions:

• Was there a breaking point within the locker room/front office that made it so that Baker was no longer a viable option, and this decision was made before Watson became available?
• Did Berry and Stefanski go to Haslam with this move, did Jimmy force it through, or was this a situation where all 3 agreed it needed to happen?
• Is the narrative story on Baker (walk on, underdog, shoulder chip) that we have been hearing since before his #1 overall selection, in reality, bullshit?
• Was the $230mil guaranteed a way for the Browns to chip up cash for Watson to turn around and payout to end the civil cases?
• If the big contract was explicitly for that purpose, what kind of line does it cross, if any, for Cleveland?
• Does Watson make the Browns immediate contenders?
• Was the decision to offer this contract a full endorsement from Haslam that Berry and Stefanski as his coach/GM duo for the next 5 years (life of Watson's contract)?
• If Watson were to make arrangements to pay the civil suits and remove that issue before the beginning of the 2022 season, would the Browns fans that are uncomfortable with him coming to Cleveland have that comfort level change for the positive?
• Should Baker be dealt before any of the other chips fall for QB free agent signings/trades or do the simply force him to remain the back-up to Watson until closer to the season, or possibly into the beginning of next year? (trade value now/later question)

 

If it came with an apology to all those he has hurt, possibly. Remorse goes a long way and to date, I have seen zero.

 

I had mentioned previously in this thread that the Browns should be proactive with trading Baker if they had indeed made up their mind on moving on from him, or if it was becoming apparent that Mayfield may push his way out of Cleveland - Monday Morning Quarterback

Well, it looks like both scenarios may have actually been happening. The Browns look to have made a decision to divorce themselves from Baker, and it is a very real possibility that Mayfield was positioning himself to get out of Cleveland.

The question becomes - What/when was the moment that changed the Browns from being all in on Baker to moving forward with another passer, or possibly just without him in 2022?

It likely was several factors, but I think Mayfield's personality likely played a huge role in the coaching staff/front office wanting to explore alternatives to lead the franchise.