Browns' Baker Mayfield mistake hasn't aged well

Oh, how the Cleveland Browns would love to have Baker Mayfield right now.

It's been just a little more than three years since the Browns traded Mayfield to the Panthers, and so much has happened since.

Mayfield struggled, had a cup of coffee with the Rams, then became the Buccaneers' franchise quarterback.

Meanwhile, Cleveland traded for the controversial Deshaun Watson, gave him a record contract, watched him struggle, then tear his Achilles, and now there's a four-QB competition ongoing this offseason between the likes of Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.

Yeah, it'd definitely be nice to still have Mayfield.

Maybe the Browns were logical in dealing Baker when they did, but it hasn't aged well.

He has developed into a star in Tampa Bay, a guy who was recently predicted to get a $200 million contract extension when his time is due.

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It's just another sad story in a Browns history full of them.

Cleveland has started 40 quarterbacks since returning to the NFL in 1999.

Mayfield may have been the best of the bunch. He even led the Browns to the playoffs.

But Cleveland got greedy and felt it could get more out of the position.

Instead, the Browns are shaping up as a risk to be a laughingstock in 2025, while Mayfield keeps on winning the NFC South Division.

Mayfield always brought swagger and excitement to the field, and when he was healthy and at his best, he found a way to win games.

Those are all things the Browns are lacking at quarterback right now, and all they can do is watch their former No. 1 pick show those skills off far away.

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