3 QBs who likely won’t be available for trade this offseason

2. Baker Mayfield

Is there a more polarizing QB in the league than Baker Mayfield? It feels like for every apologist the former No. 1 overall pick has in his corner, he has a swarm of haters who feel like he’s barely a starter for a playoff team.

The reality is Mayfield falls somewhere in the middle of elite and average. He’s so-so. Good enough to get a talented roster like the Browns into the playoffs, but also not good enough to elevate the talent around him.

Unfortunately for Mayfield, who admittedly played through a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder for most of the year, he took a major step backwards in 2021 and will likely play out the fifth-year option on his rookie contract next season instead of signing an extension.

Where will he do that? Despite widespread debate about his future, Cleveland has committed to another year of the 26-year-old. As GM Andrew Berry put it in his end-of-season presser, the Browns “fully expect” Mayfield to return as their starter and “bounce back” after an injury-cursed year.

Tough to blame them for that. Over the first three years of his career, Mayfield was a borderline elite quarterback. In 46 games between 2018-20, he threw for 11,115 yards and 75 touchdowns to 43 interceptions (89.1 passer rating).

Go ahead and cross another QB of the big board.