Shannon Sharpe says nobody wants Baker Mayfield

During Oklahoma's spring game this past Saturday, current Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield vowed to give "everything I have to wherever my next home is" as he looks for a fresh start in his NFL career.

However, it was reported Monday that the Carolina Panthers are among teams not expected to trade for Mayfield before the NFL Draft gets underway Thursday night "if they do it at all." Per Troy L. Smith of Cleveland.com, Pro Football Hall of Famer and FS1 personality Shannon Sharpe offered his opinion on Mayfield's reputation around the league during an edition of the "Undisputed" program. 

"Baker Mayfield would still be the quarterback if what a lot of people said Baker Mayfield was going to be [was true], which is a franchise-altering quarterback," Sharpe explained. "In the NFL, you play well, you have a job, you keep a job. Baker Mayfield didn’t play well."

Mayfield first hurt his non-throwing shoulder in the second game of the 2021 season and played through the injury throughout the campaign before he underwent surgery in January to repair the problem. According to ESPN stats, the 27-year-old finished the season 27th among eligible quarterbacks with an 83.1 passer rating and 35.1 total QBR, and he matched 17 passing touchdowns with 13 interceptions. 

"Nobody willing to trade a fifth-round pick? You won’t give up a fifth, sixth or seventh-rounder? Don’t nobody want [Baker Mayfield]," Sharpe added. "It’s hard, but it’s true. Sad, but fair." 

Sharpe's assessment may not be entirely accurate. Mayfield is owed a fully guaranteed $18.858 million for next season, and it's thought multiple clubs are waiting to see if Cleveland will cut him if no team offers anything of value for his services before or during this week's draft.