NFL Rumors: Panthers still in the market for Jimmy Garoppolo and Baker Mayfield

Super Bowl LIV - San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl LIV - San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs

After the 2022 NFL draft and after free agency has come and gone, it still seems like the Carolina Panthers are interested in adding a veteran quarterback.

Steve Reed, a sportswriter for the Associated Press in Charlotte, N.C., covering the Carolina Panthers, tweeted that the Panthers are still interested in Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo on Friday afternoon.

Reed Tweeted:

"As I've reported several times, the Panthers are still interested in Mayfield/Garoppolo at QB, but in order for a trade to take place the other team would have to agree to pick up a large portion of their salary. Nothing has changed on that front for weeks."

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The news comes even after the Panthers added a quarterback in the draft. Carolina drafted Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral in the third round with pick No. 94.

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Heading into the 2022 season, the Panthers' current quarterback room consists of Sam Darnold, Matt Corral, PJ Walker, and Davis Cheek. Adding Mayfield or Garoppolo to this group would be a significant improvement.

Acquiring either Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo will require dodging some hurdles

Cleveland Browns v Minnesota Vikings
Cleveland Browns v Minnesota Vikings

There are reasons why both Mayfield and Garoppolo haven't been traded yet.

Teams don't want to pay Mayfield the $18.8 million he's set to earn this season. After the 2020-2021 season, in which Mayfield led the Browns to an 11-5 record and a road playoff victory against the Steelers, the Browns picked up the quarterback's fifth-year option for the 2022 season.

Teams interested in trading for him reportedly don't want to pay him that and want the Browns to take on a big part of that chunk, if not all of it, by releasing him.

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If Mayfield agrees to a pay cut, there's more potential to get him dealt.

As for Jimmy G, his issue is that he most likely can't pass a physical right now, so he won't be allowed to be traded. During the 49ers' Wild Card game against the Dallas Cowboys, he suffered a shoulder injury. In the off-season, Garoppolo underwent shoulder surgery on March 8th.

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Once he is cleared to throw and can participate on the field, he will be able to pass a physical, which is part of the trade process. Once healthy, this could gain traction in a potential trade. The Carolina Panthers could phone the 49ers in a potential trade for the veteran quarterback.

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