Browns want to trade Baker Mayfield 'as soon as possible,' don't need first-round pick

By most accounts throughout the midweek, neither the Cleveland Browns nor would-be buyers were in any desperate hurry to figure out the playing future of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is owed $18.858 million in fully guaranteed money for the last season of his contract at the same time the Browns have the newly acquired Deshaun Watson atop their depth chart. 

That may no longer be the case.

Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported Wednesday afternoon that "the Browns aren’t seeking a first-round pick" for the 2018 first overall draft choice "but are actively trying to trade him as soon as possible." 

Additionally, Cabot wrote that "the Browns have no plans to pay some of Mayfield’s salary to facilitate a trade," which seems to be a response to previous stories claiming an interested party such as the Seattle Seahawks would want his current employer to "absorb a portion" of that money. Like others, Cabot added Mayfield’s contract could be restructured to benefit all involved and, essentially, get the Browns off the hook for what he's owed if the Seahawks decide they want to complete a trade sooner rather than later. 

Other than that, the song mostly remains the same regarding Mayfield’s immediate future. The Carolina Panthers aren't trading for the 26-year-old at this time, and the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons all added signal-callers earlier this week. The Falcons may be a team to watch, though, as general manager Terry Fontenot admitted earlier in the day he plans to add at least one more arm to his quarterback room through free agency, the upcoming draft or a trade. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have also been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Mayfield but at a much cheaper price than what he's owed and only if he's willing to sit and learn behind seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. 

"The Browns would like to give him a chance for a fresh start now," Cabot wrote of the Cleveland-Mayfield divorce. That doesn't seem any more likely Wednesday night than it did during the morning hours unless Cleveland releases its former starter without caring about any financial burden.