Cleveland Browns Trade QB Baker Mayfield to Carolina Panthers
It has been a long time coming. The Cleveland Browns are finally shipping Baker Mayfield to his next. The former No. 1 overall pick is heading to the Carolina Panthers, which was first reported by Ian Rapoport.
Browns are expected to get back a fifth-round pick, which could be a fourth-round pick depending on the playing time that Mayfield endured during the 2022 season.
Cleveland is going to pay over $10 million of Mayfield’s 2022 salary. Carolina will be on the books for about $5 million of said salary. The move gives the Browns a roster opening, as well as $8 million in savings that they can roll over to next year if they choose to do so. Mayfield agreed to cut his expected salary by $3.5 million to get the deal done.
Mayfield is scheduled to take his physical with the Panthers tomorrow to make the trade official. The former Heisman winner will no longer be a talking point for the Browns now that he is moving on. Mayfield will have a chance to win the starting job for the Panthers.
Browns and Panthers play in week one, so it will not take long for Mayfield to have a chance to go up against his former team.
Statement from Browns’ owners Jimmy & Dee Haslam: "We want to thank Baker for all his contributions to the Cleveland Browns," Dee and Jimmy Haslam said. "From the moment he was drafted, he gave his all for this organization and this city. With his fierce competitive spirit, he excited the fanbase and accomplished things that no player at his position had done in Cleveland for a very long time. He also made a difference in the community, whether it was hosting events at the Boys and Girls Club, honoring our troops, supporting the Special Olympics as well as countless other charitable endeavors. We are grateful for everything he did for this organization and wish him and Emily well in the future."
Brandon Little is a writer for Sports Illustrated’s Browns Digest website and you can follow him on Twitter @BrandonLittleFB here. You can follow Browns Digest on Twitter here.
