Baker Mayfield thanked Browns fans and the city of Cleveland on the same day the team met with Deshaun Watson, his potential replacement.
“With many uncertainties, here is where my head and heart is,” Mayfield wrote on social media on Tuesday evening in a message addressed to Cleveland.
“The past 4 years have been nothing short of truly life changing since I heard my name called in the draft to go to Cleveland. This is not a message with hidden meaning. This is strictly to thank the city of Cleveland for embracing my family and me. We have made many memories and shared growing in this process through all the ups and downs.”
The Browns drafted Mayfield with the No 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft after a brilliant career at Oklahoma, during which he won the Heisman Trophy. But while the 26-year-old has hardly been a failure in Cleveland, the Browns have not made a deep playoff run with Mayfield under center despite having a team packed with talent on both sides of the ball. The 2021 season was particularly disappointing, with the Browns failing to make the postseason and Mayfield struggling after suffering an injury in his non-throwing shoulder. In contrast, the Browns’ divisional rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, reached the Super Bowl with another young No 1 overall pick, Joe Burrow, at quarterback.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski have insisted that Mayfield remains their starting quarterback. But that situation appears to have changed when a grand jury decided last week that Watson should not face criminal charges over allegations of sexual misconduct with massage therapists. Watson still faces civil charges in the case.
The grand jury’s decision has led to teams including the Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints to pursue Watson, who has been pressing to leave the Houston Texans for some time. The 26-year-old Watson is the same age as Mayfield but has had a far better career on the field. He has the highest completion rate of all time among NFL quarterbacks with more than 1,500 passes, led the league in passing yards in 2020 and has been to three Pro Bowls.
ESPN reported on Tuesday that the Browns had flown to Houston to persuade Watson he should waive his no-trade clause to move to Cleveland. If Mayfield goes to the Texans as part of a trade, he would be returning to the state where he grew up.
“I have no clue what happens next, which is the meaning behind the silence I have had during the duration of this process. I can only control what I can, which is trusting in God’s plan throughout this process. I have given this franchise everything I have,” Mayfield added in his statement on social media. “That is something I’ve always done at every stage, and at every level. And that will not change wherever I take my next snap. Whatever happens … I just want to say thank you to the fans who truly embraced who I am and the mentality that aligned so well with this city’s hard working people.
“Cleveland will always be a part of Emily [Mayfield’s wife] and my story. And we will always be thankful for the impact it has had and will have in our lives. Sincerely, Baker Reagan Mayfield.”