It's the middle of the NFL offseason, and that can only mean one thing: Any scrap of information involving NFL teams' personnel moves will make waves. Even if said info is fake.
That was the case when an image of a Baker Mayfield Seahawks jersey, supposedly leaked then immediately deleted by Seattle, started making rounds across the internet. The image suggested Mayfield finally had a new team after he and the Browns struggled to find a team to take on his contract.
One problem: The image is fake.
As noted by ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio, someone altered the image of a Quandre Diggs jersey and placed Mayfield's name over it instead. If you look at the bottom of the below image, you'll see the internet trickster forgot to do the same over the thumbnail, leaving Diggs' name atop the No. 6:
MORE: Baker Mayfield trade news and rumors: Browns QB faces long summer with team in stalemate
The #Seahawks Pro Shop today briefly had a page up for a Baker Mayfield jersey and has since been deleted. This comes after a Josina Anderson report about a trade for Mayfield being actively discussed between Seattle and Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/4opAPTei23
— Baker Breadman (@NFLonBread) June 24, 2022
Of course, the fake image doesn't preclude a move by Mayfield to the Seahawks, who likely wouldn't mind having a more proven quarterback on the roster than Drew Lock after trading Russell Wilson to the Broncos. Even if he did end up on the Seahawks, his jersey number likely wouldn't be an immediate given, even considering no offensive player currently wears No. 6.
But the former No. 1 overall pick has yet to find someone willing to take on the remainder of his contract in 2022, in which he is due a base salary of roughly $18.5 million. The Browns — mired in yet another quarterback controversy involving Deshaun Watson — have reportedly offered to pay up to half of Mayfield's contract simply to get him off their books.
DeCOURCY: Magnitude of Browns' brainless deal for Deshaun Watson coming into focus as hearing approaches
The fake Mayfield Seahawks jersey likely caught fire because of a June 22 report by CBS Sports that suggested the Seahawks had "high-level interest" in Mayfield and were even open to extending him. Mayfield was also rumored to be included in a straight-up trade for the Panthers' Sam Darnold, another rumor that ultimately did not prove to be true.
Regardless, it appears Mayfield's time in Cleveland is over. He was excused from mandatory minicamp and does not seem likely to return to the Browns, even as the NFL is reportedly aiming for a minimum one-year suspension for Watson, the team's new No. 1 QB.