Cleveland Browns check many boxes in NFL Draft, yet trading Baker Mayfield isn't one

BEREA, Ohio — When the dust settled from the NFL Draft on Saturday night, the Browns had three new players from the University of Oklahoma and a Sooners legend left in limbo.

The Browns achieved many goals the past few days, but trading quarterback Baker Mayfield is a task General Manager Andrew Berry has yet to complete.

The breakup with Mayfield occurred March 18 when the Browns made a controversial trade with the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson and gave the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback a five-year contract worth an NFL-record $230 million fully guaranteed.

However, the divorce between the Browns and Mayfield has yet to be finalized.

"It's a fluid situation,” Berry said during a draft wrap-up news conference. “We're dealing with it day by day. We're pleased with the weekend, pleased with the guys that we added and we're looking forward."

Trade talks between the Browns and Carolina Panthers reportedly fizzled Friday, leaving the Seattle Seahawks as the most logical suitor for Mayfield, who won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma the season before Cleveland drafted him first overall in 2018. Yet NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday his sense is the Seahawks' interest in Mayfield is “lukewarm at best.”

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The $18.858 million guaranteed Mayfield is owed next season on his fifth-year option continues to stand in the way of a deal. The Browns are expected to need to pay a significant portion of it to facilitate a trade, but Berry has made it clear since the NFL owners meetings in March he feels no pressure to rush into what he considers a “suboptimal” move.

While the Mayfield waiting game continued, the Browns drafted with symmetry, picking four players on offense, four on defense and a specialist.

Of the nine players they chose, three are from Oklahoma, with the trio coming aboard Saturday.

"Someone mentioned it to me as I was coming down [to the media room],” Berry said. “I don't think it necessarily even hit my brain at that time. It just happens to be an interesting coincidence.”

Mayfield is the former Oklahoma star on everyone's mind.

Berry didn't want to comment on whether the Browns will likely find themselves keeping Mayfield into the summer to see if a quarterback injury elsewhere creates an unforeseen trade opportunity.

“I'd probably go back to what I said a little bit earlier,” Berry said. “It's fluid, and we'll deal with it as circumstances change accordingly.”

Mayfield would not be contractually obligated to report to Browns headquarters until mandatory minicamp June 14-16. To avoid fines and potential contractual issues, Mayfield would attend minicamp and training camp, which begins in late July, a league source said. The Browns can excuse Mayfield but not tell him to stay away.

“We'll deal with it as it comes,” Berry said.

Reviewing the Cleveland Browns' 2022 NFL Draft picks

The Browns entered the three-day draft with glaring holes on their defensive line and in their receiving corps. They desperately needed an upgrade at kicker, too.

Berry checked all of those boxes, albeit later than expected because he traded down 24 spots and out of the second round Friday night.

“I've probably never been a part of a draft where you literally accomplish everything that you want,” Berry said. “There are always whether it's opportunities, players or some other facet that either do not go your way or maybe it's a bit ambitious. We're really pleased with how we're coming out of the weekend, but the reality is no roster is perfect, our roster is not perfect and we're going to continue to look for opportunities to improve it.”

Cleveland's 2022 NFL Draft pick tracker: See every Browns selection

Berry used his first pick this year in the third round on Mississippi State cornerback Martin Emerson at No. 68 overall.

The Browns also chose UAB defensive end Alex Wright (No. 78 overall) and Purdue receiver David Bell (No. 99) in the third round.

On Saturday, they drafted Oklahoma defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey (No. 108 overall) and Louisiana State kicker Cade York (No. 124) in the fourth round, Cincinnati running back Jerome Ford (No. 156) in the fifth round, Oklahoma receiver Michael Woods II (No. 202) in the sixth round and Oklahoma defensive end Isaiah Thomas (No. 223) and Texas Tech center Dawson Deaton (No. 246) in the seventh round.

Thomas is the only 23-year-old player Berry has drafted since he became GM in January 2020. The other 23 prospects selected by Berry have been in the 20-22 age range when they were picked.

"Age is important, but it's not the only thing," Berry said. "It all factors into it. We're not age purists as everyone may believe. We really do want good football players.”

Drafting three defensive linemen, including two ends, raises questions about whether the Browns will re-sign three-time Pro Bowl selection Jadeveon Clowney.

“We'll continue to keep our thumb on the pulse of all of the veteran markets," Berry said. "I would not comment on a specific player, but we think highly of JD. We'll take our breath tomorrow, and we will be back at it with roster building next week.”

The Browns sat out Thursday's night's opening round. They didn't have a first-round pick because they traded the 13th overall selection to the Texans in mid-March as part of the haul for Watson, who's facing 22 active civil lawsuits from women accusing him of sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massage appointments.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns made 2022 NFL Draft trades, but not with Baker Mayfield