"Feels like that'd be a good match" - Pat McAfee wants Baker Mayfield to move to NFC team
Baker Mayfield is still on the Cleveland Browns' roster. However, he is expected to soon depart the team that selected him with the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Once the team signed former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson to a groundbreaking five-year, $230 million contract, the writing was on the wall for Mayfield.
Several NFL pundits, including Pat McAfee, have had their share of opinions as to what's next for the former Oklahoma University standout. Here's what McAfee had to say on a recent episode of his podcast about the possibility of Baker Mayfield joining a team in the NFC:
"Baker Mayfield in Seattle could be fantastic, especially with electricity at that ground and the way Pete Carroll operates, right? Feels like that'd be a good match. We don't know how or why it happened and maybe Seattle's the right spot.
"Maybe this is the right way to get a deal done. I love whenever people go outside the box and get a deal done to make something happen that they think will make them better will pay off in the end. We shall see."
NFL reporter Josina Anderson speculated that the Seahawks are interested in acquiring the Browns QB. It remains to be seen whether the Browns will be willing to part with Mayfield and get nothing in return.
I’m told the #Seahawks still have a high-level of interest in acquiring QB Baker Mayfield and behind-the-scenes are open to contractually extending him, per league source. I also know that the process of collecting information and insights into Mayfield is still ongoing.
Should the Cleveland Browns hold onto Baker Mayfield?
Under normal circumstances, the Browns would perhaps rush to part with their much-maligned quarterback. However, these aren't normal circumstances.
Deshaun Watson came over from the Houston Texans with a Texas-sized bag full of baggage. He is currently under investigation on charges of sexual assault.
In what might be a bit of respite for the Browns, the attorney for the plaintiffs announced last week that Watson and his team had settled 20 of the 24 lawsuits.
Tony Buzbee announces in a statement that all but four of the civil lawsuits against #Browns QB Deshaun Watson have been settled https://t.co/Ye3HoQi05h
Despite most of the lawsuits being settled and a grand jury declining to indict Watson on criminal charges, the star quarterback has not yet avoided punishment from the NFL.
If players have been arrested or criminally charged, they can be suspended under the NFL's personal conduct policy. If Watson is found to have violated this policy, he will be suspended for a period of time.
With this in mind, would it benefit the Browns to hold onto Mayfield until the dust settles around Deshaun Watson? Hate him or love him, the former Heisman Trophy winner led the Browns to the divisional round of the playoffs in 2020.
Another quarterback on the roster is Jacoby Brissett, but he has looked like a back-up at best so far.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit The Pat McAfee Show and H/T Sportskeeda