Baker Mayfield likely not an option for NOLA Saints in 2022

The New Orleans Saints were once listed as a potential landing spot for Baker Mayfield. Recent reports suggest Mayfield will stay at Cleveland for at least one more year.

The chances of Mayfield coming to NOLA were already low.

With stars like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson potentially looking for a new team in 2022, Cleveland joins New Orleans as one of the quarterback-needy teams that could use a grizzled pro under center.

However, it seems like the Browns are keeping Mayfield around for next year, when Mayfield enters the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.

New Orleans Saints can scratch Baker Mayfield off their wanted QB list

Mayfield’s 2021 season has been less than spectacular. Following an uplifting season in which Mayfield led the Browns to the playoffs, the quarterback dealt with injuries all year, sometimes even visibly limping on the field.

Mayfield chose to keep playing after tearing his labrum in his left shoulder early in the season, and he suffered a host of other injuries as well that caused him to miss three games.

Currently, Mayfield has been placed on injured reserve with backup Case Keenum starting in Week 18.

Whether or not the Saints were seriously interested in Mayfield, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick seems content in Cleveland — for now.

Mayfield would be hard-pressed to find a better team, anyway. Cleveland’s defense remains one of the best in the league, and the team is equipped with most of the weapons it needs for another playoff run (solid run game, trusty targets) not to mention Mayfield will need to undergo extensive rehab for his shoulder this offseason.

Further in the future, if the Browns opt not to extend him after 2022, New Orleans potentially has a shot at picking up Mayfield, who will still be at a prime age of 27.

For now, the Saints will have to look elsewhere for their quarterback of the future.