The Cleveland Browns closure with QB Baker Mayfield won’t become official until the end of the 2022 season despite Wednesday’s trade. Some Browns fans will follow Mayfield closely to compare whatever happens to him in the future and what happens with the team that traded him.
While the offseason has been full of those that support Mayfield saying how great he is and how poor of a decision the team made arguing with those who agreed with the team that Mayfield was not a top level quarterback.
Now on the Carolina Panthers, Mayfield’s success can impact the Browns in a couple of ways that will lead Browns fans to root for him.
First, the trade includes a conditional pick coming to Cleveland from Carolina. Initial reports state that the conditions on the pick are based on Mayfield’s playing time. If he meets the criteria, the Browns will get a fourth round pick. If he doesn’t, the pick is in the fifth round.
Second, Carolina has all three of Cleveland’s AFC North rivals on their schedule this year along with another playoff contender, the Denver Broncos.
Finally, whether a fan loved or hated the quarterback, Browns fans don’t benefit from focusing on more negatives now that he is off the roster. It benefits fans to hope for the best for Mayfield after Week 1 of the 2022 season.
Baker Mayfield is no longer a Cleveland Brown but the fan base gets to keep cheering him on. A win-win.
