With The Los Angeles Rams, A Revitalized Baker Mayfield Has Put His Career On Another Burner

The Los Angeles Rams have gone from the penthouse to being bottom-feeders this season, a reality that quarterback Baker Mayfield knows all too well.

Mayfield, who’ll get his fourth start with the Rams (5-10) when they battle the L.A. Chargers (9-6) on Sunday, was once, like the Rams, the toast of the NFL.

While the Rams’ free fall from winning last season’s Super Bowl to being super disappointing is dramatic, it has company with the one-time promising Mayfield.

Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick with the Cleveland Browns in 2018 after winning a Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma, saw his fortunes nose-dive when he was traded by the Browns, then released by the Carolina Panthers.

In a quest to do an occupational do-over, Mayfield landed with the quarterback-desperate Rams. If misery truly loves a partner, it was a match of epic proportions.

But instead of turning this marriage into a pity party, the Rams raised a glass to Mayfield and then pitched him the keys to the offense.

He responded with two impressive victories, one in which he orchestrated a 98-yard, last-minute, game-winning drive, and in the other, he led the team to 51 points in mastering the Denver Broncos’ stout defense.

Mayfield, a free agent after the season, gets two more chances to improve his standing. It’s a Hollywood audition that could result in another team taking a flier on him.

Might it be the Rams?

Mayfield, 27, has shown he’s up to the hard, and innovative, coaching that comes from L.A.’s Sean McVay

But Mayfield’s return is probably a mirage, with all signs pointing to Matthew Stafford returning despite spending a large chuck of the season idle with a concussion and neck issues.

Mayfield is coy about his plans, especially considering his value has soared with the Rams. He’s gone from being an afterthought to having some organizations speculating that he could be their starting quarterback.

“I really haven’t given it much thought, to be honest with you,’’ Mayfield said. “It should be interesting, but all that doesn’t start until March anyways, so we’ll see how it goes.’’

What’s clear is that the Rams are committed to Stafford next season, when he takes a $20 million bite out of the salary cap. That’s part of his four-year, $160 million deal he signed with the Rams after winning the Super Bowl.

Mayfield is in the final stages of his rookie contract he inked with the Browns of four years, $32 million.

The Rams would relish Mayfield’s circling back, but the have scant wiggle room under next year’s salary cap. Mayfield will undoubtedly pursue a starting job and the compensation which accompanies it.

No matter where Mayfield goes, he owes a debt of gratitude to the Rams.

They were the lone team to place a waiver claim on Mayfield and their faith in him — or better put, their lack of other viable options — has increased Mayfield’s earning capabilites in the future.

Although that future likely doesn’t include the Rams.