Baker Mayfield Panthers Oct 2, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) on the field after the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Carolina Panthers shocked the NFL world Monday by releasing quarterback Baker Mayfield.

The Panthers traded for Mayfield, then with the Cleveland Browns, this past offseason after the Browns agreed to pay a majority of his base $18 million salary.

Mayfield last appeared for the Panthers in Week 11, a 13-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in which Mayfield threw for 196 yards and two interceptions while surrendering four sacks. The Browns selected Mayfield as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, ahead of the likes of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.

The NFL world was quick to react to the news:

“Utterly amazing how quickly Baker Mayfield’s career spiraled downward. We’re less than two years removed from Mayfield helping to lead the Browns to their first playoff berth in 18 years and coming up just short of an appearance in the AFC Championship Game,” Brett Sobleski tweeted.

“Baker is about to fall ass backwards into being the starting QB of the San Francisco 49ers,” David Gardner said.

“49ers are low in the waiver claim order since they made last season’s NFC Championship Game. Seems that another team would claim Baker Mayfield before SF’s turn,” David Lombardi said.

“Baker Mayfield will be a $1,349,445 waiver claim (5/18ths of fully guaranteed $4.858M Panthers base salary) for SF or other any team. Waiver priority is inverse order of current won-loss record, so Texans have 1st dibs,” Joel Corry said.

“Baker Mayfield greeting Christian McCaffrey in the 49ers locker room,” joked Pete Blackburn.

The Panthers are next in action Dec. 11th when they face the Seattle Seahawks on the road.

[Ian Rapoport]