The Carolina Panthers have reached a serious impasse in their trade talks with the Cleveland Browns over quarterback Baker Mayfield.
The Panthers advance to the third round to select Matt Corral
The Panthers went into the third round, sending a fourth-round pick and a 2023 third-round pick to the New England Patriots to draft Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral after they held trade talks with the Browns, without that a compromise could be reached.
Sources had warned on condition of anonymity, citing the delicate nature of the talks, that no deal was imminent and that the entire deal would depend on whether a financial compromise could be reached. A source expressed frustration that a deal could not be worked out and said it was a closed matter between the two franchises.
Late Friday night, Browns general manager Andrew Berry said in a press conference that he would be fine if Mayfield stayed in the squad through the weekend.
“We will continue to address this situation as we go forward,” Berry said.
Mayfield is due $18.858 million this year as part of his fifth-year club option. The Panthers wanted the Browns to pay a large chunk of that salary to negotiate a trade. If that financial gap couldn’t be bridged, then no deal. Especially since, as one source pointed out, the Panthers are already paying quarterback Sam Darnold $18.858 million.
“There’s no way the Panthers are going to pay these two guys that much money,” a league source said before Corral was drafted. “If the Browns aren’t playing for money, this isn’t going to happen. At least not immediately.”
Constant trade request from Baker Mayfield
Mayfield, a former top overall pick, has requested a swap. But the Browns won’t just give him up. The Browns have already moved on, trading for three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson and signing him to a $230 million, fully guaranteed contract.
Mayfield does not participate in the Browns’ off-season voluntary training program. He is training in Austin, Texas to recover from off-season shoulder surgery and the apparent awkwardness that would likely result from his constant trade requests.
The Seattle Seahawks are another team that has had an interest in Mayfield this offseason, but at what level is unclear.
“Unique situation” in Cleveland
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and Mayfield have addressed rumors with the media
“I think it’s a unique situation,” Stefanski said at NFL owners’ meetings. “We’ll have to see how it develops. We would all appreciate an answer, yes or no, that’s not the reality.”
Mayfield has rushed for 14,125 career yards and 92 touchdowns but has had a difficult season.
“I think we’ll see,” said Stefanski. “I think everyone understands the situation and we hope there will be a conclusion at some point.”
Mayfield previously discussed the situation on a podcast, noting that he thought he was going to the Indianapolis Colts before they were traded to quarterback Matt Ryan. He’s also said the Seahawks are on his radar.
“I have no regrets about my time in Cleveland for what I tried to give to this place,” Mayfield said. “The respect thing will all be a personal opinion. I don’t feel respected, 100%. I was told one thing and they did something completely different.
“I’m right in the middle of that. And guess what, I got a taste for it because I’ve had four different head coaches in four years. 2021 was miserable – a bunch of different coordinators. I’m looking for stabilization right now.”