As the Cleveland Browns quarterback saga returns, many fans are struggling with the idea of moving on from a quarterback that finally led them to the playoffs. While that argument can go on for years, it seems obvious that the team’s power structure, most likely including Jimmy Haslam, Paul DePodesta, Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski, is interested in a better quarterback.
As Deshaun Watson chooses his next team, which won’t be the Browns, and Baker Mayfield asks for a trade, fans wonder if an upgrade is possible. Not only has Mayfield been the team’s best quarterback since the return but acquiring anyone better seems difficult.
What has been reported, once again today, is that Cleveland’s bosses aren’t just looking for an upgrade but a top-tier quarterback:
The #Browns have been informed they’re out of the running for Deshaun Watson, a source says. The team still views Baker Mayfield as their quarterback going forward. They told Mayfield’s agents at the Combine they’d only explore top-tier QBs such as Watson.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 17, 2022
The idea of quarterback tiers is not a new one. Mike Sando has been doing the tiers for a while including at ESPN and last year with The Athletic (subscriber, $).
On the Browns Wire Podcast, I shared my version of the quarterback tiers. A much simpler one. There are backups, starters and superstars.
If we use those simple tiers, for the sake of the written word, it is clear that the Browns saw Watson as a superstar but not Mayfield. Based on reports that they plan to build around him if they can’t get a top-tier guy, it is safe to assume Cleveland sees Mayfield as a starting-level tier quarterback.
If we believe that the team also thinks in terms of “tiers” when it comes to the position, moving on from Mayfield only makes sense if they can find someone else in the starter tier or better. While fans may not think Matt Ryan, Jimmy Garopolo, Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston or any other passer possibly available as an upgrade, are they in the same tier as Mayfield? If so, the trade-off could be considered minimal at best.
Can the Browns upgrade if they move on from Mayfield? Maybe not. Can they find someone in the same tier as Mayfield? Depending on the evaluation, it seems that they can. That may be all that matters.
