4:46pm: The Panthers and Browns have continued their conversations on Mayfield, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes (video link). The expectation now is Cleveland needing to eat a chunk of Mayfield’s $18.9MM fifth-year option salary would stand to improve Mayfield’s price tag, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds the cost for the since-replaced QB is expected to be a Day 3 pick.
The Panthers are also a candidate to trade into Round 2 for a rookie, but that would be quite costly. Because of its trades for Sam Darnold and C.J. Henderson, Carolina does not pick again until No. 137. Carolina is, however, high on Willis and Corral. Both visited the Panthers earlier this month, joining fellow potential Carolina target Howell in doing so.
12:04pm: Day 1 of this year’s draft has come and gone, and Sam Darnold remains at the top of the Panthers’ quarterback depth chart. While that doesn’t come as a surprise, the team’s situation at the position could still change in the near future. 
[RELATED: Panthers Select Ekwonu At No. 6]
According to Jeff Howe of the Athletic, Carolina’s interest in veterans such as Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo could heat back up. Given the fact that they made the expected move to bolster their offensive line by drafting Ikem Ekwonu sixth overall, he writes, the Panthers “now should be players for Mayfield.”
The two parties were linked in the build-up to the draft, with Carolina finding themselves as one of the runners-up to acquire Deshaun Watson. After initial reports indicated the team had little, if any, interest in Mayfield, the Panthers emerged in the eyes of many as the favorite to acquire him. Doing so, however, was only thought to be feasible after at least the draft’s opening round.
As Howe notes, any potential trade involving Mayfield is complicated by a number of factors. One is his contract; the 2018 No. 1 pick is due $18.86MM on the fifth-year option, just as Darnold is. For that reason, Howe writes, “the Browns are prepared to pay a portion of Mayfield’s salary to facilitate a deal.” Another is the team’s complete lack of Day 2 picks, taking them out of the running to draft the likes of Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, Sam Howell or Matt Corral without sacrificing 2023 capital.
“I think we’ll look at every opportunity out there” said general manager Scott Fitterer, via Howe’s colleague Joe Person, regarding the QB market. “There’s still some really good players in this draft. And we’ll also look at every opportunity outside the organization.” Whether the team acts on those opportunities will be worth monitoring as the weekend progresses.
I think Mayfield is the right play. I don’t know why they wouldn’t take the chance. Darnold might have had potential once, but he is a bust now.
And that is the EXACT same description of Mayfield as well… Mayfield might have had potential once, but now he is a bust
So now the Panthers will have 2 guys that are the same. That’s not moving in the right direction
Last year was a bad year because he was injured.
You would think that 2020 never existed.
Just put Darnold and Mayfield’s stats next to one another. It is clear to anyone who sees that Mayfield is the superior quarterback. Given what he went through last year, it is remarkable that he did as well as he did.
I understand that he is not a top quarterback, but he is far from a bust.
Mayfield and Darnold aren’t comparable at all. Baker is clearly a better QB then Darnold, and has shown more in the NFL then Darnold ever has. He would be a notable upgrade for Carolina. Acting like it would be a lateral move is laughable.
Darnold is certainly worse than Mayfield.
You might call him a 50% bust. Great rookie year and 2020 but bad 2019 and 2021. Injuries played a factor in it
I’m a Jets’ fan and I’m not certain Sam Darnold is a bust. He’s about the same age as Kenny Pickett who was drafted yesterday. I was an advocate for the Jets to trade down from #2 and potentially pick up Sewell and offensive weapons for Sam, before they traded Sam to the Panthers. The Jets went another direction and took Zach Wilson. They still managed to get him protection (Alijah Vera-Tucker) and weapons (Elijah Moore and Michael Carter) in that draft. Their o-line was much improved last year and finished last year ranked either 10th or 11th on PFF. Even Mike White and Josh Johnson were able to have good games with that protection.
I think the Panthers made the right move to draft Ekwonu at #6. With him and a full season of McCaffrey, Darnold has a better shot at success in 2022. I don’t think any of the top QBs in this draft offer them a much better alternative to Darnold. Then again, the Cowboys had luck in the mid-rounds with Dak Prescott and prior to that with a UDFA named Tony Romo. The Panthers could grab someone like Bailey Zappe when they pick on Day 3 who could challenge Sam if Sam really has cemented his status as a bust. I don’t think the other one-year, high contract guys, Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo, offer a much better solution to the Panthers than Sam Darnold does now. If the team flounders, they can try again with a better QB draft class next year.
@phenomenal- The Panthers (Rhule specifically) can’t afford to take this “there’s always next year” approach because he’s on the hot seat and coaching for his job this year. Zappe is a wild card with a likelihood of not being better than Darnold, whereas Jimmy G and Mayfield are clear upgrades (I’m also a Jets fan and we know this is true.
It seems like the GM Fitterer is in control though, not Rhule. Rhule can give his input and push for the best win now option to try and save his job, but can’t force it through with a GM who likely has a longer leash left then he does.
@rocket- Rhule has the final call as he was given full control of the final roster upon being hired. Unless something changed between last offseason and this one (in which it was confirmed he still had control), he can overrule Fitterer.
Well they just picked up Corral, and Fitterer made comments that sound like they are out on adding a Baker or Jimmy G. Doesn’t seem like the strategy of man going into a ‘win or get out’ season, so my guess is something changed now that he’s on the hot seat.
Or maybe he’s just that bad of a coach that he actually thinks Darnold will finally break out, or Corral will step in and light it up immediately, and save his job.
That may very well be true. I guess only time will tell because I don’t envision this being a winning season for them with the current roster construction.
phenomenalajs Sam is almost definitely a bust at this point. Age is kind of irrelevant here. How many good QB’s took more then 4 years of starting in the NFL to establish themselves? At some point, you can’t make excuses anymore.
Darnold has been in some poor situations, but usually a true franchise QB’s talent will still shine through without being in an ideal situation. If you need great coaching and a top tier offense just to make him average, he’s a bust.
Pointless trivia but, Derek Anderson went 10-5 one season and missed the playoffs.. in Cleveland.. As a Carolina Panther fan, I feel Baker Mayfield is something of an improvement..
My Panthers are a shot at a wildcard spot after all.. Saints Suck, Winston at QB, Atlanta are going with a noob… Surely Brady won’t embarrass kids nowaways..
I also owe Tom Brady a thanks..for that Super Bowl.. I hated New England.. and he signs with Tampa Bay, more reason to hate both.
But thank f**k we didn’t sign Deshaun Watson… I have a feeling McCaffrey is gonna get traded
and if McCaffrey gets traded… I am done… Lost Beason, Smith.. Keek retired, fair and is going to the hall of fame (I hope)… CMac is my final stand
How sad would it be if Baker gets traded for a 7th? He’s shown in the past he can lead a team. But the browns have zero leverage so it’s take whatever you can get or cut him.
Ya, I think they will be lucky to get an early day three pick for him. A 6 or a 7 makes more sense given their lack of leverage and his salary.
Ought to be working a deal to get back into round 2. Whoever they take could benefit from sitting and watching for a bit and not be rushed into it. If you don’t want to go high enough to grab Willis, a better bargain might present itself late 2nd round with UNCs Howell.
Then you’re just drafting backups. If the teams thought the guys left were high end future starters, they’d be gone by now. Grab Mayfield and if he’s not good, then you move on
And Matt Corral it is in the 3rd…
I think the Browns best bet is to wait this out until closer to the season, some playoff hopeful will have their QB go down and will consider him. I know everyone will say “but Baker sucks” well so did Sam Bradford and my idiotic Vikings gave up a haul for him.
The thing is, what if no quarterback goes down? The Browns want this settled before camp begins
The Browns will, due to the way that they handled this, firmly be in the listening and reacting camp and not in the deciders camp. They’ll just to have to take whatever the best offer is, whenever it is, or just pay the man to sit.
Why though, there’s no rush, Baker can sit at home and the team can move forward without him until a deal comes available. There’s no reason to rush a deal and get back almost nothing for a serviceable young QB that still has upside. Plus don’t they get a pick eventually if he goes and signs elsewhere? I always forget how that works so I could be wrong but that alone would disincentivize taking peanuts just to unload him.
I think they would like to sign Jarvis Landry and Jadeveon Clowney and they don’t want to come too close to the limit. Everyone needs buffer room and the only way they’ll be able to achieve all those goals is to move Baker (while paying as little as possible of his salary.)
Please please please find a way to get Willis! Mayfield is not a good QB, he’s basically the Johnny Manziel version of Sam Darnold. As a season ticket holder I’d have to think about skipping a few games if Baker is at the helm
I don’t know where you got the impression that Baker is a) as bad as Darnold and b) as troublesome as Manziel, but it’s certainly unique to say the least
Please take Jimmy G. Yours Truly, A Niners Fan
Why wouldn’t another team jump in if the cost is so low?
Eagles???