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The Baker Mayfield saga may finally be coming to an end. Well, at least the drama surrounding his involvement with the Cleveland Browns. The quarterback has been waiting to be traded since the team landed Deshaun Watson. A release would suit him well, as he could then pick his next team.
Current reports have the Carolina Panthers as the team most interested in trading for the former No. 1 overall pick. The Seattle Seahawks have been linked in the past, but it's fair to say the Panthers need him more.
The Panthers have had quite a few quarterbacks in recent years. When head coach Matt Rhule was hired, they rolled with Teddy Bridgewater. He then got Sam Darnold, only for the former top pick to struggle and get injured, before turning to Cam Newton, who struggled too.
So what should we make of this potential trade? If anything, it seems like the perfect fit for everyone involved.
Carolina need a new quarterback and Baker Mayfield fits the bill
Carolina has always been one of the most logical landing spots for Mayfield. Matt Rhule is desperate for anyone talented under center. His 10-23 record in two seasons is simply not good enough and if things don't improve, he may find himself in danger of losing his job.
Mayfield might not be the greatest of quarterbacks out there, but he at least has a postseason win under his belt. He also has something to prove and possesses a more aggressive mindset than Darnold.
Fans should remember that his downfall in Cleveland was fuelled by him being injured for nearly the entire 2021 season. That he was cleared to play by the Browns did not make much sense at the time and still doesn't today. Prior to his injury, he had at least 22 touchdowns every year between 2018-2020 and did so under three different head coaches.
Darnold's presence is where the question mark comes into place. Both he and Mayfield are set to play on fifth-year options. So will the Panthers trade Darnold to Cleveland in a potential swap? That would make the most sense, and the Browns do have the cap space to absorb the cost. However, he may not be able to beat out Jacoby Brissett if Deshaun Watson receives a suspension.
If the Browns do not want him, the Panthers may just accept the reality of their situation and dangle Darnold in trade talks all year. It is not an ideal situation to be in, but everyone will be happy if Mayfield shows up and helps the team contend for a playoff spot.
