Nobody knew it then, but the Cleveland Browns made one of the most horribly bad decisions in NFL history in 2022 when they sold the farm to trade for QB Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans and decided to part ways with Baker Mayfield.
Cleveland sent six draft picks, including three first-rounders, Houston’s way in exchange for Watson.
To be entirely fair, Watson was looking like an elite quarterback prior to the trade. He earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2018 to 2020 with the Houston Texans.
He threw for a league-leading 4,823 passing yards, had the third-best touchdown to interception ratio, and the second-best passer rating.
On the other hand, Baker Mayfield came off a year where he threw for 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 14 games played.
The decision seemed easy back then.
Cleveland Browns fans showered the team with boos during their 33-17 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the season-opener on Sunday as Watson finished 24 of 45 for 169 yards with two interceptions and one TD.
Baker Mayfield threw for 289 passing yards and four touchdowns in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 37-20 victory over the Washington Commanders.
Fans couldn’t help but to troll the Browns over this:
Baker Mayfield balling out in Tampa as soon as the Browns mortgaged their future with the Deshaun Watson $230,000,000 contract is fitting and hilarious
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 8, 2024
Browns fans watching Baker cook while Deshaun Watson struggles
pic.twitter.com/UDeUjTISpC— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 8, 2024
So you’re telling me the Cleveland Browns got rid of Baker Mayfield (who is playing fantastic right now) so they could throw away 230 MILLION dollars + SIX draft picks, and whatever future they had, for “Deshaun Watson” pic.twitter.com/haD0RoZiBq
— PWszn(1-0) (@PutridLobster) September 8, 2024
Baker Mayfield becoming better than Deshaun Watson is only something that would happen to the Cleveland Browns
— Zlatni Topki (@ZlatniTopki) September 8, 2024
baker mayfield ended up better than deshaun watson this is insanely hilarious
— dope 🫨 (@dopeisalive) September 8, 2024
Baker Mayfield Has Outplayed Deshaun Watson Since 2022
Baker Mayfield was the answer. He just needed more time.
The Cleveland Browns thought Deshaun Watson was the answer so they traded for him and gave him a five-year, $230 million contract has aged quite poorly.
Since 2022, Mayfield has outplayed Watson, racking up 6,496 passing yards to Watson’s 2,386 yards, per Bleacher Report.
Mayfield has 44 touchdowns, and Watson has 11 touchdowns.
Deshaun Watson has only played in 13 games (vs. 30 games for Baker) since signing a FULLY GUARANTEED five-year, $230M contract 😳😬
Watson has been worse in almost every significant stat since taking over for Baker Mayfield in Cleveland
(via @statmuse) pic.twitter.com/8l5CCwLmt4
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 9, 2024
Baker Mayfield has a 90.9 average QB rating to Watson’s 78.1.
He also helped lead the Bucs to the divisional round of the playoffs last year after a win over the Eagles.
The Browns got to the playoffs with Joe Flacco last year.
