Our long-ish Midwestern nightmare is over. The Cleveland Browns have traded former starting quarterback Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers.
The news was first reported by Ian Rapoport.
A new QB in Carolina: The #Panthers are acquiring former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield from the #Browns for a 2024 conditional 5th-round draft pick, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. Deal is pending a physical. All parties split the financials to make it happen. pic.twitter.com/xuTLqosmZm
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 6, 2022
According to the NFL insider, the deal would send Mayfield to Carolina in return for a 2024 conditional 5th-round pick. Most importantly, the Browns and Panthers will “split the financials” in order to make things happen, pending a physical.
The big holdup in any deal for Mayfield has long been his contract. The quarterback’s current deal calls for a fully-guaranteed $18.86 million payment in 2022, which the Browns have been adamant they wanted the trade partner to be involved in paying.
Mike Garafolo outlined how the financial split works out, which includes Mayfield agreeing to trim some of his base salary.
More: The #Browns will pay Baker Mayfield $10.5 million this season, which means they trimmed over $8 million in cash and salary-cap space. The #Panthers will pay Mayfield ~$5 million. Mayfield agreed to trim ~$3.5 million off his base salary.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 6, 2022
It has always been rumored and reported that it was between the Panthers and Seattle Seahawks for Mayfield’s services. While the Seahawks were being reported as the most likely destination last week, news of a “new team” in the mix changed that. Rapoport disputed the notion that Seattle was interested in Baker on Tuesday, and that was confirmed the next day.
Mayfield has long said that he had no plans to return to Cleveland after they traded for Deshaun Watson, even if Watson was suspended for the entire 2022 NFL season. Clearly, the Browns didn’t think he was bluffing.
The Panthers tried to sound upbeat about the possibility of another season with Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback, but clearly, they saw the writing on the wall. Not that Mayfield is a sure thing, but all signs point to him being the Week 1 start with a massive chip on his shoulder this season.
As for that Week 1 game, it will be the Browns visiting the Panthers on September 11. You better believe Baker has that one circled on his calendar.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.