Report: Panthers wanted Baker Mayfield to take $7 million pay cut
from Victor Barbosa, with YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
The Cleveland Browns finally found a trade partner for Baker Mayfield on Wednesday. It ended up being the Carolina Panthers, which were considered one of the favorites to land the quarterback all along. On Friday, more details about the process leading up to the move came out via a report from Zac Jackson and Joe Person of The Athletic.
“The financial gap had closed, but not enough to suit Panthers owner David Tepper, who was determined not to overpay for a player he viewed as a depressed asset. Multiple sources told The Athletic that while the Browns discussed Mayfield’s situation with other teams during ‘routine’ offseason discussions, the Panthers were the only serious suitor,” the report read. “With trade terms long having been agreed upon and only financial particulars left to be settled, the Browns granted the Panthers permission to speak with Mayfield and his representation around the time of minicamps. Concessions by all sides, including Mayfield’s willingness to take a pay cut, helped get the deal done July 5, just after the long, holiday weekend.”
Mayfield requested a trade out of Cleveland after the Browns entered the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, ultimately acquiring the beleaguered QB. Potential suitors hoped that Cleveland would eat a large portion of the former No. 1 overall pick’s nearly $19 million salary.
According to Jackson and Person, the Panthers initially wanted Mayfield to take a pay cut of more than $7 million. However, the former Heisman Trophy winner was only willing to give up $3.5 million of his $18.86 million guaranteed salary.
The Browns are picking up $10.5 million of Mayfield’s salary in 2022, with Carolina paying $4.86 million.