Joe Burrow: Baker Mayfield 'will land on his feet'

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow discussed the Browns' QB situation. Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bengals' Joe Burrow: Browns' Baker Mayfield 'will land on his feet'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/19/22

On the latest edition of the "Full Send Podcast," Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow made it clear he was never convinced Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal-caller Tom Brady would stay retired through the offseason.

During that same conversation, Burrow was asked about Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield spent the majority of the 2021 NFL season playing through a serious injury to his non-throwing shoulder that required him to undergo surgery in January. Roughly two months after that procedure, the Browns replaced Mayfield with Deshaun Watson, and the first pick of the 2018 draft is still looking for a new football home.

"That's a tough situation. He was hurt all last year. Every time we play him, he balls," Burrow said of Mayfield, per Nick Shook of the league's website. "First time we played him — Thursday night during Week 2 of my rookie year — we lost like 34-30. The next time we played them, I throw for 400 yards. He goes like 25-for-28 with five touchdowns. He went on a two-minute drive, touchdown, they won the game."

Burrow added that he understands why the Browns pulled the trigger on the blockbuster March trade but also said that he believes we haven't yet seen the last of Mayfield leading NFL teams to big-time victories.

"I think when you have a guy like Deshaun [Watson], you gotta take a chance at that because he's such a great player," Burrow explained. "But Baker will land on his feet. He's a really good player."

Mayfield continues to be linked with teams such as the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks in rumors, but the fact that he's owed $18.858 million of fully guaranteed salary for 2022 is reportedly making it difficult for Cleveland to trade him this spring. The Browns may ultimately have to cut Mayfield this summer to eliminate an avoidable distraction.

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