(Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Last month, longtime Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com threw it out there that the Steelers would “pounce” on the opportunity to sign Baker Mayfield if he is cut by the Browns.
"I had somebody tell me today that ... the Steelers will pounce on Baker Mayfield if he becomes available,” Cabot said on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast. “Like if they cut him and he’s just out there as a street free agent, they would take him in a minute.”
On ESPN's Get Up on Wednesday morning, Jeff Darlington also put it out there that Pittsburgh could be a possible landing spot for the disgruntled former first overall pick if the Browns cut him.
“If for some reason the Browns, and I don’t expect this to happen, were to cut Baker Mayfield, I think he signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers the very next day,” Darlington said. “Teams do still covet Baker Mayfield. They just don’t think that they need to give up as much as the Cleveland Browns are asking right now.”
Despite the fact that Deshaun Watson is still facing 22 civil lawsuits for sexual misconduct, the Browns traded three first-round picks and two additional picks - on day two or three - to the Texans for Watson. They also rewarded Watson with a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract, which is $80 million more than the previous record for fully guaranteed money at signing ($150 million).
Mayfield is understandably upset with the organization and didn't report to voluntary offseason workouts on Monday. The Browns are looking for a trade partner but are struggling to find a team who would want Mayfield as their quarterback, especially since he is due $18.58 million in 2022 (his final year under contract). The Seahawks and Panthers are two teams who have been linked to Mayfield the most.
The Steelers signed Mitch Trubisky last month in free agency and they could be in play for a quarterback in the first round of the draft, so it seems highly unlikely that the Steelers would sign Mayfield like Darlington suggests. If at all, Mayfield wouldn't be much of an upgrade over Trubisky. He also has a track record of not being the easiest guy to work with.