CLEVELAND, Ohio — Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield lost his magic. Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was a bust. We accepted both truths as self-evident before each player found a better home.
But QB declarations come with amendments these days. Last season, we saw Mayfield, Darnold, and Lions quarterback Jared Goff make the Pro Bowl after being cut or traded by former teams. This year, the Browns need a new quarterback. And next month, when free agency begins, I wonder if Cleveland could help former first-round quarterback (and divisional rival) Justin Fields rebrand his right shoulder.
Fields comes with the pedigree (11th overall pick in 2021) that inspires teams to extend second and third chances. But I can already see Browns fans balking at his potential.
Why? We all know he can’t throw. And we accept this opinion as fact because, apparently, we trust the quarterback experts employed by — checks notes — the Chicago Bears.
The Chicago Bears?!
You heard right. The ol’ windy city houses the only franchise with a longer, uglier quarterback history than Cleveland. In 104 years of existence, no Bears quarterback has ever thrown for 30 touchdowns or 4,000 yards in a season. No other franchise wears this indignity. And I’m supposed to believe Fields can’t throw because he failed with Chicago?
No thanks. In the words of fellow free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, I’ve done my own research. And what I found suggests that Fields can at least provide stability under center.
Over his last 19 starts — six with Pittsburgh last season, 13 with Chicago in 2023 — Fields has completed 62% of his passes for 3,668 yards (6.9 per attempt), 21 touchdowns (plus nine rushing) and 10 interceptions (plus five fumbles), which equates to an 88.6 passer rating.
Since he entered the league (2021), only three other quarterbacks have run for at least 2,500 yards. Two (Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen) have claimed Most Valuable Player honors during that span. The other (Jalen Hurts) just won Super Bowl MVP. All three have played at least seven more games than Fields.
I’m not saying Fields can duplicate his speedy peers’ successes. On Cleveland’s free-agent quarterback spectrum, he falls closer to “compete in camp with a rookie” than “become the next franchise quarterback.” But if Cleveland surrounded Fields with better talent, who knows?
The Bears can’t tell you. They didn’t send a single offensive player to the Pro Bowl during Fields’ three seasons in Chicago (for the record, Cleveland has sent six since 2021). The Steelers, who only sent one of Fields’ offensive teammates (guard Isaac Seumalo) to Orlando this year, can’t say much, either.
Their interest in retaining Fields, however, suggests Pittsburgh still believes in his talent.
Let’s review for a second. Chicago, the worst-ever franchise at evaluating quarterbacks, let Fields walk after three seasons. Pittsburgh, a model franchise with six Super Bowl rings, remains intrigued. Ask yourself: Which team should I trust more?
I know my answer. The Steelers have long inspired jealousy among Cleveland fans who wish their franchise could identify and develop talent like that. This time, Pittsburgh has already discovered the unmined diamond. All the Browns have to do is sell Fields on a bigger role or a better offensive coach.
If successful, they accomplish two outcomes. First, Cleveland adds a talented player to its deserted quarterback room. Second, it forces a division rival to circle back on a limited list of available quarterbacks.
Rodgers? Daniel Jones? Mason Rudolph pt. 2? Knock yourself out, Steelers. And thanks for helping develop the next Browns quarterback, then benching him after a 4-2 start.
I’m sure that won’t factor into Fields’ decision.
