How Can the Browns Upgrade From Baker Mayfield?

The Cleveland Browns are currently 7-9 with one week remaining in the NFL regular season. Cleveland will finish in last place in the AFC North this year. A lot of the reasons why they were bad this season was because of quarterback Baker Mayfield.

He gambled on himself while playing injured and Mayfield made a massive mistake. Because of this, he could potentially be replaced next year. Baker Mayfield completed 16-of-38 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 26-14 loss on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mayfield has only completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Who and how could the Cleveland Browns potentially upgrade from Baker Mayfield at the quarterback position next year with a Super Bowl-caliber roster?

Trade for Derek Carr

The Las Vegas Raiders have a completely murky future and Derek Carr has been rumored in trades for years. If Las Vegas for some odd reason moved off of him, Derek Carr isn’t going to be that expensive. Carr has thrived in chaos many times and being with the Cleveland Browns would be no different.

In Cleveland, Derek Carr would have a much better supporting cast than he currently does now. He is basically carrying the Raiders franchise on his back. He would be able to do the same with the Browns, who are basically in win-now mode. General manager Andrew Berry has pressed all of the right buttons when it comes to personnel. Derek Carr would only maybe be worth a third-round or second-round pick at most.

Trade for Russell Wilson

The Seattle Seahawks may be starting all over after this season ends. Pete Carroll might be out as Seattle’s head coach. That would potentially mean Russell Wilson moves on with his NFL career despite loving Seattle, Washington. 

Wilson has been to two Super Bowls before in back-to-back seasons and also won one in 2013 with Seattle, which was known as “The Legion of Boom.” Russell Wilson can’t waste any more years in the NFL. Cleveland would be a solid fit for him, but would his wife want to move there? 

Russell Wilson would have a solid running game, a solid offensive line, and a solid defense. They would just need to upgrade at wide receiver. The Cleveland Browns would be willing to part with a couple of their own first-round picks to get better at the quarterback position. Cleveland will have so many options and avenues to look at it this offseason.

Take One in the NFL Draft 

I don’t think the quarterback class is that strong in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, if the Cleveland Browns swing and miss on the trade market and the free agent for one and it wouldn’t be surprising if that happened, then they have to select one here.

Three potential options could be Kenny Pickett from PITT, Matt Corral from Ole Miss, and Malik Willis from Liberty. A sleeper pick could be Carson Strong from Nevada. They have to get this one right in the NFL Draft because the Cleveland Browns are notorious for getting the quarterback position wrong here, and it is the most position to have in today’s NFL.

You can not possibly win a Super Bowl Title if you are the Cleveland Browns without a franchise-caliber quarterback.