Browns’ Wrong Love: Was Letting Baker Mayfield Go Really the Move?

Cleveland Browns fans might feel like they’ve written “mistake” in bold on their 2025 season diary. In Week 2 of the NFL season, the Browns dropped to 0-2 after turning a 10-3 halftime lead into a 41-17 defeat against the Baltimore Ravens. Ouch.

Fans were still nursing that blow when Monday Night Football brought a double dose of heartbreak—or bragging rights, depending on which side you’re on. Baker Mayfield was leading the Buccaneers, while former backfield mate Nick Chubb ran for the Texans. Chubb was largely ineffective but still managed a 25-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, sending Cleveland fans’ souls into temporary cardiac arrest.

Then came the kicker: Mayfield engineered an 11-play, 80-yard game-winning drive with less than two minutes left. For Browns fans, that moment cemented the “what if” questions about their former franchise QB. Because yes, he’s still ELITE

Is Baker Mayfield ELITE??? 👀 pic.twitter.com/ksReql4ZmY
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 16, 2025

Since joining Tampa in 2023, Mayfield has helped the team to consecutive NFC South Division titles and thrown 74 regular-season touchdown passes—more than Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson. Meanwhile, Cleveland has cycled through nine different quarterbacks, combining for 65 touchdowns since parting ways with Mayfield after 2021.

It all started back in 2022 when the Browns reportedly became “obsessed” with Deshaun Watson. Had they not chased him, they probably would have stuck with Mayfield, who was their #1 draft pick in 2018 and immediately electrified Cleveland fans.

September 20, 2018: Bakers Debut🏈

Baker Mayfield arrives

#1 Draft Pick and #297 on #DawgPound list of post-Bernie QBs

Baker electrifies starving Cleveland fans going 17 of 23 for 201 yards leading us to our 1st win in 635 days#100YearsWar pic.twitter.com/RtdujvxLcX
— Mr. Cleveland Sports (@MrCleveland_216) September 20, 2025

Four years later, Mayfield continues to thrive in Tampa while Cleveland keeps searching for a QB capable of matching his production. The “what ifs” linger, and Browns fans are left asking why their team let go of the man who led them to the playoffs and energized the fanbase from day one.

In short, the Browns’ quarterback carousel continues, while Mayfield’s star keeps rising. For Cleveland fans, it’s a bittersweet reminder that sometimes chasing a dream QB can turn into a nightmare, and that the grass—or in this case, the football field—might have been greener all along.

Finding the Browns’ next quarterback now feels like hunting for your car keys… when they’re literally everywhere but in sight. 🏈🔑