It took longer than expected, but Baker Mayfield was finally traded a couple of weeks ago.
The Browns traded for Deshaun Watson months ago, and it was widely known that he is going to be their future franchise QB. After months of discussions with teams, Baker was finally traded to the Panthers for a 2024 5th round pick.
Baker gave back $3.5 million in the trade, but according to ESPN’s Field Yates, he will have a chance to earn that money back with incentives. Some seem like he has a good chance to make it if everything goes well, and others seem like he’s going to have to have an amazing year for him to get the money.
“The reason why we added Baker was to make the group better as a whole,” Fitterer said in a press conference. “Our whole philosophy is to add competition not just in the quarterback room but every position. So if we see an opportunity to get better, where we can add a player that makes sense for us as a team, makes sense for us financially, makes sense for us just from an addition standpoint, we’re going to do that. And with Baker being out there, having the conversations, it made sense for us.”
Prior to landing Mayfield in a deal with the Browns last Wednesday, the Panthers already had Sam Darnold, P.J. Walker, and Matt Corral on the roster. Darnold and Walker both saw action last season in Carolina before the team selected Corral out of Ole Miss in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.
“Sam really had a nice spring for us, stepped up, showed a lot of edge, threw the ball really well,” Fitterer said. “And I think competition would be good for him, would be good for P.J., it’s good for Matt Corral—the young guy that’s going to be in the room learning. And it’s good for Baker. It’s a fresh start for him.
“So I think overall, it’s a very healthy situation for us all to be in.”
Pretty basic incentives, to be honest, and it’s a win-win for both sides. If Baker meets them, he gets his money, and the Panthers are actually good. If he doesn’t, he gets to move on in free agency, and so do the Panthers.
Flip the page to see more.
