When the Cleveland Browns pursued QB Deshaun Watson, their previous starting quarterback demanded a trade. Even before Watson chose the Browns, Mayfield was set on moving on. From everything the Browns said publicly and, reportedly, to his agents, the team was only interested in finding an upgrade or running it back with Mayfield.
Once Cleveland finalized the trade for Watson and gave him a huge new contract, Mayfield’s days with the team were clearly numbered.
Recovering from surgery with one guaranteed year left on his contract, the Browns didn’t find any takers for the former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. It seemed as if GM Andrew Berry had no leverage in trying to make a trade for the team’s former top overall pick.
