One of the best parts of sports are the “what ifs.” While many hear those words as looking backward but there is also the enjoyment of looking forward at “what if” certain things will happen like with NFL mock drafts.
For the Cleveland Browns, the story of QB Baker Mayfield will always be a version of “what if.” What if he and Odell Beckham Jr. had connected better? What if he had a better coaching staff other than Hue Jackson to start his career? What if the Browns didn’t move on him from him?
Mayfield’s shoulder injury is the biggest “what if” about his time in Cleveland.
Everyone knew he was hurt but the tough quarterback wanted to play and the medical staff said he couldn’t injure it worse. Those basic facts led to a 6-8 record for the team with Mayfield completing just 60.5% of his passes with 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Speaking on a podcast, Mayfield admitted he should have shut it down:
Baker Mayfield on @PardonMyTake talking about his time with the #Browns.
Admits he probably should have gotten shoulder surgery in 2021 and calls himself a "stubborn asshole" looking back at it. pic.twitter.com/DVYNbz930I— Mikey McNuggets (@MikeLucasTV) July 16, 2024
The self-reflection is a positive step as Mayfield’s journey led him to a place, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he signed a three-year, $100 million contract this offseason. In one calendar year, Mayfield was on four different teams before settling in with the Bucs.
Noting he took on Cleveland’s “blue-collar attitude” is sure to garner even more love for the fiesty QB.
Some Browns fans will hold on to the idea that Mayfield could have led the team to the promise land and, likely, will never be convinced otherwise. Only time will tell if Mayfield can lead Tampa Bay further than he did in Cleveland.
What will never for sure be known is whether Mayfield shutting it down and having surgery when he was injured in 2021 would have altered Cleveland’s plans at quarterback. Would the playoff run in 2020 and a 3-3 start to 2021, before sitting out Week 7 due to injury, been enough for the Browns to extend Mayfield to a big deal or were they already leaning toward making a change?
It is highly unlikely we will ever know.
