What Baker Mayfield Trade Means for Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions will face the Carolina Panthers during the 2022 NFL season.

Could quarterback Baker Mayfield be under center by Week 16 when the Lions travel to Carolina to play on Christmas Eve?

According to NFL Network, "The Panthers are acquiring former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield from the #Browns for a 2024 conditional 5th-round draft pick."

To make the deal agreeable to both sides, the Browns have agreed to pay $10.5 million of Mayfield's $18 million salary in 2022.

The deal is pending Mayfield passing a physical.

Although Mayfield may not be a clear long-term answer for the Panthers, there is an opportunity, in the short term, for the team to be more competitive in 2022.

Currently, the Panthers feature a quarterbacks room with Mayfield, Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker.

The Lions were able to limit the offensive production of Mayfield when the team visited the Browns last season.

Mayfield went 15-of-29 for 176 yards and two interceptions in a 13-10 victory.

Mayfield, 27, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent the first four seasons of his career with Cleveland.

Despite the fact that Mayfield garnered a playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the organization went out and gave Deshaun Watson a massive, long-term contract that was fully guaranteed this offseason.

A new QB in Carolina: The #Panthers are acquiring former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield from the #Browns for a 2024 conditional 5th-round draft pick, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. Deal is pending a physical. All parties split the financials to make it happen. pic.twitter.com/xuTLqosmZm
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 6, 2022

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