Where will the former Heisman Trophy winner and 2018 number 1 pick be traded?
This NFL offseason has been a true quarterback carousel, as so many star quarterbacks have found new homes. After the Browns, Colts, Saints and Falcons have signed or traded for their quarterbacks in the past few days, the trade market for Baker Mayfield has all but vanished. Baker and Jimmy G are top QBs left on the market, but no contending team needs a quarterback and both the Browns and the 49ers are in no rush to trade either one. Here are four potential landing spots for Baker Mayfield (in no particular order).
1. Carolina Panthers
Current QB1: N/A
The Panthers are the most quarterback needy team in the NFL. Their Week 1 starter is not on the roster right now, but they do own the number 6 pick in this years draft. They should draft Malik Willis, but maybe another team trades up or perhaps the Panthers use that pick to shore up their offensive line or draft a stud defensive player. Coach Matt Rhule is on the hot seat, and a combination of Baker + someone like Kayvon Thibodeaux gives them a better chance to win in 2022 than just Malik Willis. But Matt Rhule is gone if they bring in Baker and he fails. Baker is a risky option for a coach trying to save his job, which is why I think the Panthers will draft a quarterback or trade for Jimmy Garoppolo.
2. Seattle Seahawks
Current QB1: Drew Lock
Drew Lock shouldn't start for the Seahawks Week 1. He isn't a starter in this league and should only start the year as QB1 if the Seahawks have someone like Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett developing behind him. Willis would be a great fit in Seattle, but he likely won't be there when they pick 9th overall. The Hawks have been linked to Baker Mayfield ever since he requested a trade from Cleveland, but I think they would rather stick with Drew Lock than roll the dice with Baker. Drew Lock is much cheaper than Baker, and the Seahawks are unlikely to be competitive in the gauntlet NFC West. But Pete Carroll will be 71 in September and may prefer to roll with Baker rather than a rookie quarterback or an unproven Drew Lock.
3. Detroit Lions
Current QB1: Jared Goff
Ah, the Lions. They seem to be content with Jared Goff as their quarterback as the team enters year 2 of the Dan Campbell experience, but the Lions will likely move off of Goff when the right opportunity presents itself (and the roster has a chance to win some games). Still, Jared Goff is one of the weaker starting quarterbacks in the NFL and the Lions have no reason not to seek an upgrade as the position, especially if it will only cost a late-round draft pick. The Lions could bring in Baker to compete for the starting job, but it is hard to imagine that he will do much better than Jared Goff with the current weapons that team has. Also, the Lions are paying Goff around $25 million this year.
4. New York Giants
Current QB1: Daniel Jones
The New York Football Giants are my favorite destination for Baker Mayfield. In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Giants passed on quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen to pick Saquon Barkley 2nd overall. If the Browns pass on Baker with the first pick, does he become a New York Giant? It is interesting to think about, but the reality for the Giants is Saquon was not the right pick and neither was Daniel Jones.
The Giants are falling into the exact same trap they fell into last offseason. The belief going into last year was that if the Giants were once again terrible, David Gettleman and Daniel Jones had to go. Well the Giants were terrible, and while Gettleman "retired", the Mara's chose Daniel Jones over coach Joe Judge (and rightfully so, Judge was a disaster). But the Giants still have no idea what they have in Daniel Jones, and he certainly hasn't earned the right to enter 2022 as the undisputed starter. I think they should bring in Baker and give both quarterbacks the chance to win the starting job.
The four teams in this list are probably the only four that would *consider* giving Baker a chance to start in 2022. I don't think anybody is going to hand him a starting job; he will have to earn it. It could get messy being in a large market such as New York, but the Giants have been so bad over the past few years that Baker could inject some energy into the team and win over the fanbase.
The Giants really don't have much to lose by acquiring Baker Mayfield. They will likely be one of the worst teams in the NFL next year and be looking for a new QB once again. Why not roll the dice with Baker? It would be a bold move for new GM Joe Schoen, but if Daniel Jones is actually a NFL-caliber quarterback, Baker won't ever need to see the field. The Giants are tied with the Jets for the worst record in football over the past 5 years. What do they have to lose? Maybe they can get their franchise quarterback from the 2018 Draft afterall.
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