Report: NFL executives believe Baker Mayfield, Jimmy Garoppolo will be cut

There continues to be no indication that any team is going to make a serious effort to trade for Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield or San Francisco 49ers veteran Jimmy Garoppolo before or during the summer months. Cleveland will have either Deshaun Watson or Jacoby Brissett atop the depth chart in September, while 2021 rookie Trey Lance is handling San Francisco practices as Garoppolo continues to recover from surgery he had in March to repair a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder.

As is often the case in sports and in life, money is a big issue regarding the futures of both Mayfield and Jimmy G. Mayfield, the 2018 first-overall draft pick, is owed a fully guaranteed $18.858 million for 2022, while the 49ers could reportedly save $25.55 million in salary-cap space by cutting or trading Garoppolo. 

So what's next for the pair? 

ESPN's Dan Graziano "took a straw poll of league executives, coaches and agents," and Graziano explained that a "majority of the people to whom I spoke for this story believe both players will likely end up being released." 

Mayfield has repeatedly been linked with the Seattle Seahawks, who currently have 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock competing with Geno Smith for their starting job. The straw poll sees Mayfield landing in Seattle and Garoppolo signing with the Carolina Panthers, as rumored. Garoppolo theoretically would be an upgrade for the Panthers over both Sam Darnold and third-round pick Matt Corral. 

The New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings were also named as clubs that could take a flier on either quarterback assuming Graziano is right and both become free agents sooner rather than later.