Cleveland Browns Trading Baker Mayfield To The Carolina Panthers

Baker Mayfield was selected by the Cleveland Browns first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Browns and quarterback Mayfield’s protracted divorce looks to have been settled. Baker Mayfield is no longer a part of the Cleveland Browns.

According to league sources who spoke to Yahoo Sports, Mayfield was traded recently to the Carolina Panthers for a fifth-round pick that can get better with play markers. This puts an end to a bitter disagreement the team had with them over their earlier pursuit of Deshaun Watson. Sam Darnold’s expected replacement in Carolina is now Baker Mayfield.

Watson and the backup quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, are now officially at the top of Cleveland’s quarterback depth chart, and the Panthers will now have one season to evaluate Mayfield before his rookie contract expires. It’s an abrupt conclusion to a partnership that saw the Browns and Mayfield considering an extension before the 2021 season, but ultimately fell through due to injuries and ineffectiveness.

Since the Browns selected Mayfield first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, he has started 59 games and has completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 14,125 yards with 92 touchdowns and 56 interceptions. Even though his career has been plagued by injuries and inconsistent play, he did assist Cleveland in its lone playoff triumph since returning to the NFL, a 48-37 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2020 campaign.

Mayfield may not be the Panthers’ long-term quarterback solution, but he at least gives them a chance to be more competitive in 2022. Sam Darnold has experienced his fair share of setbacks in the league, and although displaying occasional sparks, there has been much too much inconsistent play and poor decision-making when he is the starting quarterback. As a result, the Panthers will have Mayfield, Darnold, and P.J. Walker in their quarterback room.

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