The Baker Mayfield to the Detroit Lions thing just won’t go away
As long as Baker Mayfield remains a Cleveland Brown, national writers can’t let go of the idea the Detroit Lions will end up with him.
At this point, at least until the Cleveland Browns may be forced to cut him, the Carolina Panthers look like the frontrunner to get Baker Mayfield. But there’s been an idea the Detroit Lions could end up with him, since senior front office executive John Dorsey drafted Mayfield as the Browns’ general manager in 2018.
Don’t let the April report from Albert Breer of SI.com that the Lions’ “don’t have much interest” in Mayfield detract from all the writers who have been practically trying to speak it into existence.
Right or wrong, the Lions seem totally committed to Jared Goff as their starting quarterback this year. Beyond any idea he’s better than Goff, and it’s hard to say he clearly is, trading for Mayfield would mean bringing in a quarterback who’s potential hassle factor exceeds his talent level. That leaves aside the actual mechanics of a trade.
Baker Mayfield to the Detroit Lions sentiment still won’t go away
It was a fairly innocuous footnote at the end of what he considered to be the Lions’ most questionable move of the offseason–not adding a quarterback–but Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports dropped Mayfield’s name.
"Jared Goff completed a career-high 67.2% of his passes and threw just eight interceptions last season, but the jury is still out when it comes to him being the quarterback of the future. Detroit should have added a rookie, or at least someone else. Maybe it is the team that ends up with either Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo."
ESPN’s Dan Graziano joined the party, with credit to SI.com for the quotes from an Insider article.
"Former Browns general manager John Dorsey, who selected Mayfield at the top of the 2018 draft, is now part of the Detroit front office. He’s not the GM, but if he were to stump on Mayfield’s behalf, is it ridiculous to think Mayfield could come in and compete with Jared Goff? Or replace Goff after this year?”"
If Mayfield is released by the Browns, the Lions could become an interesting possibility for him. But even that seems like a reach, with his asking price and probably wanting to be anointed the starter as likely roadblocks.
Whether the Lions should trade for or eventually sign Mayfield and immediately anoint him the starter is not a question. They won’t do it. He’d have to clearly beat Goff out, and I remain unconvinced he could. And if he didn’t beat Goff out for the starting job, what then? Again, it’s a headache not worth inviting.
As Graziano noted, the Lions have a question mark over who will be their quarterback in 2023 and beyond. If they win enough games this year, they won’t necessarily be in prime position to draft one of the top signal callers in next April’s draft. They will have two first-round picks again though.
Graziano probably didn’t just pull the Lions out of a metaphorical hat as a possible destination for Mayfield. He may have credible sources pointing to it, and if the chips fall a certain way it’ll happen. But it’s still hard to see Mayfield and the Lions as a match, with both player and team having their reasons for hesitancy.
More. 3 fairly recent former Detroit Lions draft picks who might be done in the NFL. light
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