2018 Baker Mayfield was considered the best college player in the US. Not for nothing did the Cleveland Browns select him first in the draft. Less than four years later, it’s not just the Browns who don’t want him. Prospects from the NFL are few and far between.

Munich/Cleveland – The quarterback carousel in the NFL is spinning fast this year. Russell Wilson is the new quarterback for the Denver Broncos, Mitch Trubisky is the new quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Deshaun Watson is the new quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

But what happens to Baker Mayfield, the previous Browns quarterback who is still on the roster? Nobody really knows. Fact is, it’s probably not going anywhere in Cleveland for the former No. 1 pick.

Does Mayfield’s overzealousness cost him his future?

But how did Mayfield go from an undisputed starter in Cleveland to a trade candidate with no market in the space of a year? The reasons are many.

Last season, the 26-year-old injured his shoulder. Instead of taking the injury break, he pulled through and played. “I owe that to this franchise,” Mayfield said of his decision.

In the end, the decision was not a good one. Not only did the former No. 1 pick do himself no favors from a health standpoint, but his numbers were average at best.

In the end, 14 games, 3010 yards of space gained, 60.5 percent passes completed, 17 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a passer rating of 83.1. Not exactly a strong letter of application to a new team.

Mayfield wanted to show he was the future of the Browns in what is called a contract year, a season after which contract extensions are negotiated. Apparently, he achieved the exact opposite with his honorably-intentioned overzealousness.

Hardly any more room for Mayfield in the NFL

Which team could Mayfield even be the starter on Game Day in the 2022 season? The options have become scarce.

Realistically, 30 of 32 teams have already more or less settled on their starter next season. Only the Seattle Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers have not yet finalised the quarterback question.

And one of the two spots will likely be taken by Jimmy Garoppolo, who is still part of the San Francisco 49ers but is on the unofficial trade block. Not unlikely Mayfield won’t have a new team in week one.

FOX journalist Kevin Wildes thinks so: “I think his most appropriate team is TBD (to be determined). Then as soon as a quarterback gets hurt, Baker comes to the rescue,” Wildes said on “First Things First”. Absolutely not an unrealistic scenario.

Do the Browns give up picks to get rid of Mayfield?

According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, there has been “loose contact” between Baker Mayfield’s camp and the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks. “Talks haven’t really progressed though,” Howe tweeted.

Should an agreement be reached, however, compensation is still on the table – because Mayfield will cost around 18 million dollars in cap space in 2022. While it was said a few days ago that the Browns expected a first round pick in return, the tide has since completely turned.

Last rumoured, teams will only take Mayfield if they receive picks in addition to the playmaker. A practice that last existed at a starting quarterback with Brock Osweiler – then, ironically, the Cleveland Browns.

Which team – if any team – will pick up Baker Mayfield in the near future is impossible to predict at this time. It’s also possible that the Seahawks and Panthers will go after a quarterback in the draft.

In that case, Baker Mayfield’s starting career would be over for the time being after not even four years.