NFL Trade Rumors: Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo to be involved in 3-team trade

Cleveland Browns star Baker Mayfield and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo were both replaced this offseason.

The Browns brought in Deshaun Watson, while the 49ers decided to promote Trey Lance. Mayfield and Garoppolo could now be involved in a three-way trade.

According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, the potential deal would see Jimmy Garoppolo sent to Cleveland to fill in for Watson, who is expected to be suspended. Baker Mayfield, meanwhile, will head to Carolina to replace Sam Darnold and keep the seat under center warm for Matt Corral.

There could also be some draft compensation for San Francisco.

Here's how Florio put it:

"A three-way trade could make sense, with the Browns sending Baker Mayfield to the Panthers, the Panthers sending a draft pick or two to the 49ers, and the 49ers sending Garoppolo to Cleveland. But the question of paying Mayfield’s $18.8 million guaranteed salary continues to complicate any such conversations."

Florio did concede, however, that the Browns would be better off convincing Mayfield to stay in 'The Land' and build up his free agent value.

"The best approach for the Browns would be to find a way to persuade Mayfield to return for a year. With Watson (if he’s suspended for a year) having his $1.035 million salary for 2022 pushed to 2023 and his $46 million salary for 2023 pushed to 2024, the Browns could actually offer more money to Mayfield for the coming year."

He added:

"They could also agree not to tag him after the season. That would be the kind of tangible gesture that could persuade Mayfield to return for another year — especially if he realizes (as he should) that he’ll have a better chance to position himself for a big payday on the open market if he stays put in an offense he knows, and with talent on both sides of the ball."

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Baker Mayfield is ready to move on from Browns drama

From the sound of it, Baker Mayfield no longer wants bad blood with the team that drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2018. The Cleveland Browns QB recently said he and the franchise are ready to move on from the drama that has surrounded him this offseason:

"I think for that to happen there would have to be some reaching out. But we're ready to move on, I think - on both sides."

If Baker Mayfield stays in Cleveland, he will likely usurp Jacoby Brissett as the starter this season in Deshaun Watson's absence. Watson is likely to miss some, or all, of the 2022-23 season due to an active lawsuit aiming to convict him for sex crimes ranging from harrassment to assault.