CLEVELAND — On Monday, Bookies.com released betting odds that listed the Indianapolis Colts as the favorite to trade for Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.
It didn't take long for such a wager to qualify as a bad bet.
Later on Monday, the Colts found their quarterback -- and it wasn't Mayfield. Rather, Indianapolis acquired veteran signal-caller Matt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a third-round pick. That eliminated the Colts as a potential destination for Ryan's services, with the Falcons later signing free-agent Marcus Mariota to fill their own void at quarterback.
So where does that leave Mayfield and the Browns, who just acquired a new starter of their own in Deshaun Watson? Let's take a look at his potential remaining options.
Seattle Seahawks
At this point in the offseason, the Seattle Seahawks are one of the few remaining teams without a solidified starting quarterback. While Seattle received Drew Lock in the trade that sent former franchise cornerstone Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, there isn't reason to believe the Seahawks wouldn't be interested in upgrading from the 2019 second-round pick.
Mayfield, for all his faults, would certainly be an upgrade from Lock and could provide Seattle with a high upside signal-caller as it enters the post-Wilson era. And at this point, Cleveland's asking price for Mayfield could prove far more affordable than it likely would have been just a week ago.
Carolina Panthers
Like Seattle, the Carolina Panthers remain without a clear-cut starter. Cam Newton is a free agent unlikely to re-sign, while former No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold didn't inspire much confidence in his 12 appearances for the Panthers last season.
But while Mayfield might be an upgrade -- or at least a change of pace -- for Carolina, acquiring him might not make sense. With Mayfield and Darnold each owed $18.8 million in guaranteed money in 2022, the Panthers would be paying a premium for two unproven quarterbacks.
Detroit Lions
At least compared to Seattle and Carolina, the Detroit Lions have an established starter in Jared Goff. But with Detroit still in the early stages of a rebuild, it might make sense for the Lions to trade him elsewhere in favor of a younger quarterback with a higher upside.
One could argue that Mayfield fits that description and it's worth noting that the general manager who drafted him in Cleveland, John Dorsey, is now a member of Detroit's front office. Could the Lions send Goff to Seattle and then acquire Mayfield? It might make sense for all parties involved.
Backup destinations
While it was previously assumed that Mayfield would be starting elsewhere in 2022, his current market shows that may not ultimately be the case. As a result, he could find himself entering 2022 as a backup somewhere other than Cleveland.
If Mayfield isn't traded to a team in need of a starter, the Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants stand out as potential destinations -- although his $18.8 million salary could prove prohibitive. Ultimately, Mayfield's trade destinations are already dwindling with the 2022 NFL Draft still more than a month away.