The Panthers, it seems, have waited long enough. Unsatisfied with their current crop of QBs headlined by incumbent Sam Darnold and recent draft pick Matt Corral, the Panthers have intensified their pursuit of Baker Mayfield, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. If possible, Carolina would love to see Mayfield in uniform at this week’s minicamp so he can begin building chemistry with teammates in anticipation of next month’s training camp.
Talks remain “ongoing” with Mayfield’s $18.86-million salary the main sticking point in negotiations. The Browns had previously excused Mayfield from this week’s mandatory minicamp, allowing him to train separately while the team continues to field trade offers. Mayfield lost his starting job to Deshaun Watson, who the Browns acquired months earlier in a blockbuster trade with Houston.
Watson, of course, faces literally dozens of sexual misconduct allegations with new accusers coming forward, almost on a daily basis. Though the Pro Bowler managed to avoid criminal charges, he’s not out of the woods yet with countless civil suits to resolve and, more than likely, significant discipline from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell with a lengthy suspension, followed by a contentious appeals process, all but inevitable.
Mayfield has been adamant his Browns career is over, though their lack of urgency in trading him would suggest the team isn’t convinced Watson will be available for Week 1 and beyond. Cleveland’s other options under center are journeyman Jacoby Brissett (14-23 career record in 37 NFL starts) and former Steelers backup Joshua Dobbs.
Mayfield struggled mightily last season with 16 turnovers (13 interceptions, three lost fumbles) in 14 games, but was also playing through a painful shoulder injury that would ultimately require surgery. A year earlier, Mayfield enjoyed a career-best season while leading the Browns to their first playoff win since Bill Belichick coached them in the early 90s.
Mayfield, at the very least, would be a noticeable upgrade on Darnold, who, after flaming out with two organizations in a four-year span, can be safely classified as a bust, failing to live up to the enormous expectations placed on him when he was drafted third overall in 2018 (two picks before Mayfield and four before Josh Allen, now a perennial MVP candidate for the Buffalo Bills). While the Seahawks have also been linked to Mayfield, his best fit has always been Carolina, where the Panthers, despite a losing record in 2021 (5-12), boast plenty of offensive talent with a loaded skill corps headlined by Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore (recently signed to a four-year, $61-million contract extension) and Robby Anderson, assuming his retirement tweet over the weekend was made in jest.
Mayfield’s trade market has been slow to develop with many teams, including the rival Steelers (though that ship has likely sailed after spending a first-round pick on Kenny Pickett), waiting for the Browns to release him. Unless he can work out an extension with his new team, Mayfield will hit the market as an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
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