Former Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield Traded to Carolina Panthers
Baker Mayfield fans can rejoice as the former Sooners’ signal-caller is out of Cleveland and headed to the Carolina Panthers, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The Panthers will acquire Mayfield in exchange for a 2024 conditional fifth-round pick and the trade is official, pending a physical, according to a tweet from Rapoport.
The relationship between Mayfield and the Browns organization crumbled this offseason as Cleveland expressed interest in bringing in Deshaun Watson.
Then, in an all-time blunderous move from the Browns, the organization decided to move forward and trade for Watson, proceeding to give him a five-year, $230 million deal, of which every penny is guaranteed. That move severed all ties between Mayfield and the Cleveland organization, which turns out to be a bad thing for the Browns.
It turns out that guaranteeing that kind of money to a man that has 24 civil suits accusing him of sexual assault and/or misconduct isn’t a good idea. Now, the NFLPA is pursuing an indefinite suspension of Watson from the league, and its unlikely he sees the field in 2022. So not only do the Browns lose the franchise quarterback that ended their 25 year playoff drought, they also might never get to see Watson play a game.
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Browns will pay Mayfield $10.5 million this season, while the Panthers will pay Mayfield approximately $5 million. Mayfield agreed to take a $3.5 million paycut to get out of Cleveland, which will come out of his base salary.
The best part about this trade? Cleveland travels to Carolina in Week 1, and will likely have to face their former savior with Jacoby Brissett under center. Oh, the irony.
