
getty image composite
- FS1 host Nick Wright says he believes Baker Mayfield would be an upgrade at QB for New England.
- Patriots fans, and fans of about every other NFL team, disagree with him.
- Read more news about the NFL here.
So far this offseason it seems like it would be easier to list the NFL teams who have NOT been somehow linked to Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield, who got very butthurt when the Browns appeared to be pursuing Deshaun Watson (they were), eventually requesting a trade (which the Browns reportedly denied), has been mentioned as a potential trade target of the Seahawks, Colts, Falcons, Panthers, Saints, and even the Buccaneers.
One team that hasn’t really been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Baker Mayfield is the New England Patriots. Until now.
On Monday’s episode of First Things First, Nick Wright stated that he believes Mayfield would be an upgrade for the Patriots at quarterback.
“Once upon a time there were rumors the Patriots wanted to draft Baker in the first round,” said Wright. “The Patriots are looking around the AFC, and you know what they know? They know that their best-case scenario with Mac Jones is that one day he’s the ninth best quarterback in this loaded quarterback conference. They should be looking for an upgrade. They won’t be.”
10 teams that should be calling about Baker Mayfield, according to @getnickwright:
1. Giants
2. Steelers
3. Colts
4. Seahawks
5. Lions
6. Saints
7. Panthers
8. Dolphins
9. Commanders
10. Patriots"Baker would be an upgrade for 1/3 of the league." pic.twitter.com/rYuIPXffQv
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) March 21, 2022
Would Baker Mayfield really be an upgrade for the Patriots?
Let’s take a look at the numbers and see if Wright might be on to something here.
Current Patriots quarterback Mac Jones will turn 24 years-old in September. He’s 10-7 as a starter and has passed for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, giving him a QB rating of 92.5.
Baker Mayfield, on the other hand, will turn 27 in April. He is 29-30 as a starting quarterback and has passed for an average of 3,531 yards, 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, giving him a QB rating of 87.8.
It doesn’t appear, just based on the numbers, that Mayfield would be an upgrade over Jones. The small sample size for Jones makes it tough to say for sure though.
Not many Patriots fans, or any other NFL fans, for that matter, seem to agree with Wright’s assessment of their team’s QB situation.
Hard pass
— Logan (@L_TIMES_TWO) March 21, 2022
We don’t want him
— Eric (@zeromindset) March 22, 2022
I don't get why so many seemingly smart people on the NFL can't see Mayfield best is behind him. He is a dumpster fire.
— hyperably (@Hyperbaly) March 21, 2022
Every team on that list ALREADY has a better alternative than Mayfield. If you can't keep a job at a crappy organization like Cleveland, then your choices are pretty much backing up a pro quarterback somewhere or bagging at Walmart.
— Carl Norman (@CarlNor17286591) March 22, 2022
Cleveland fans acted like Baker was an elite qb for four years. Leave The Steelers out of this whole conversation. Baker?! Not now, not ever!
— TURNDOWNFORWATT (@TURNDOWNFORWA10) March 22, 2022