Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.Takeaways from Browns interviews at NFL owners meetings …There was a little progress in the Browns’ effort to trade Baker Mayfield.
At least they’ve stopped pretending that Mayfield might be back.
With Deshaun Watson and Jacoby Brissett now both under contract, and the relationship with Mayfield blown to smithereens, the Browns know there is no chance of their former franchise quarterback hopeful returning.
The problem is everyone else knows it, too.
Here’s the situation: Mayfield’s $18.858 million salary and cap number is the highest on the team. In fact, that number is greater than the combined 2022 cap numbers of Watson ($10.028 million) and Brissett ($4.65 million).
“I think everybody understands the situation, and we’re hoping that there’s closure to it in the near future,” Stefanski said at the AFC coaches breakfast on the first morning of league meetings at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, FL., where oceanfront suites start at $3,100 per night.
The Browns need to unload Mayfield and his salary cap charge to be able to complete offseason roster business. Their shopping list likely includes a starting defensive end, another veteran wide receiver, a kicker and a punter.
There is huge discrepancy in the amount of room the Browns have on their 2022 salary cap.
Overthecap.com lists the Browns’ cap room at $25.725 million. Spotrac.com has it at $22.036 million. But the NFL Players Association site has it at $2.32 million.
Some relief will come after June 1 when released tight end Austin Hooper’s cap charge is reduced from $11.25 million to $3.75 million.
The Browns have little leverage in trade talks for Mayfield because most starting jobs are filled and no team interested in Mayfield as a backup would trade for his contract.
So the Browns – and Mayfield – have to work together to get creative.
Mayfield is not furthering his career by being obstinate on this issue and making it difficult for the Browns to deal him. It’s possible the Browns and Mayfield could reach some kind of contract restructuring to enhance their ability to trade him.
Or to make it more palatable for the Browns to simply release him – as they did with Mayfield’s foil in Cleveland, Odell Beckham Jr.
Or the Browns could agree to pay a large portion of Mayfield’s 2022 salary to facilitate a trade. In 2021, the Panthers agreed to pay $7 million of Teddy Bridgewater’s $10 million salary in a trade agreement with the Broncos. The Panthers received a sixth-round draft pick in return.
In any case, at least Stefanski is not sending mixed messages about Mayfield hanging around anymore.
“I think it’s a unique situation,” Stefanski said. “Got to see how it plays out. I know all of us would love an answer yesterday. But that’s not the reality.”
Ring in the new, ring out the oldThe other reason for the Browns to move on from Mayfield is to enable Stefanski and his offensive coaches to devote all attention to Watson and Brissett.
Both new quarterbacks have to be assimilated into Stefanski’s offense on parallel tracks because it’s probable that Brissett will open the season as the starter while Watson serves an NFL suspension.
“It's something we've spoken about,” Stefanski said. “Until we know that final answer [about a suspension], I'm speaking in hypotheticals right now, but we have to be ready for whatever decision is made potentially go to Jacoby for a portion of it or not. We'll wait and see what the league has, and we'll plan accordingly when it comes to practice and those type of things.”
Watson is dealing with 22 civil lawsuits over allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct. The Browns seem to agree with the majority of speculation that Watson will serve some NFL suspension for violations of the league personal conduct policy.
Whatever length of suspension the NFL imposes, it would be served at the start of the season. In that case, Watson would be able to be involved in all team functions – offseason program, minicamps, training camp and preseason games – until the start of the regular season.
The Browns’ offseason program kicks off on April 18. Stefanski said he expects Watson present with everybody else.
“He will be here,” Stefanski said. “It’s a voluntary program, as we all know. I think there’s great value to being around your teammates and coaches in Berea. Deshaun will be a part of that.”
Stefanski added, “I haven’t an offseason yet with the players. Year 1 was COVID. Year 2 was a little bit different. I’m looking forward to having a normal offseason.”
However, with Watson’s legal troubles still unresolved and the need to break in Watson and Brissett, this shapes up as anything but a normal offseason for Stefanski.
Forming a bondStefanski’s relationship with Mayfield soured in their second year together. As the Browns’ season tanked, Mayfield criticized Stefanski’s conservative play-calling and seeming lack of trust in his quarterback.
As the new relationship with Watson begins, Stefanski wants to create a good working environment.
“When you're talking about the quarterback position, you better do what that player does best, and that's what we want to do, ultimately,” Stefanski said. “I had a lot of really good conversations with Deshaun from a football perspective, with the coaches, and I think we have a good plan moving forward. But that'll be an evolution. I mean, that that'll be an evolution over the weeks, months.
“I think so much of that is the relationship between the play-caller and the quarterback and making sure that you are aligned and seeing the game similarly, and that's where we just have to get to work. When the guys are back in in April, we have a lot of ground to cover, and I know that he will put in the work to do that.”
