Panthers To Acquire QB Baker Mayfield From Browns
The Browns and Panthers have finally reached a compromise, and it will end Baker Mayfield‘s Cleveland tenure. The Panthers are acquiring the former No. 1 overall pick, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com report (via Twitter). Carolina has since announced the move.
Carolina will send a 2024 conditional fifth-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for Mayfield, though Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com notes the pick is a conditional fourth. Clearing up this matter, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones tweets the pick could land in Round 4 or Round 5. Mayfield’s playing time will determine the pick, per InsidetheBirds.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter). This still marks a light return for a quarterback of Mayfield’s caliber, but his contract — along with leaguewide supply-and-demand issues at QB — had long been a sticking point for teams.
The sides reached an agreement to split Mayfield’s salary, the primary sticking point in their months-long talks. The Browns have agreed to pay $10.5MM of Mayfield’s $18.9MM fifth-year option salary, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. To facilitate a Cleveland exit, Mayfield has agreed to trim $3.5MM off his 2022 salary, Garafolo adds. Mayfield agreeing to a reduction moved these long-running negotiations past the goal line, Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson tweets.
Carolina will be responsible for just $5MM of its new quarterback’s salary. Mayfield can earn back the $3.5MM of his fifth-year option money through incentives, Garafolo adds (on Twitter). The Browns, who entered Wednesday in first place by a mile for cap space, will still gain $8MM in additional room from this transaction. This move pushes Cleveland’s available funds close to $50MM.
With the Panthers and Browns facing off in Charlotte in Week 1, this already-lengthy storyline likely will not cease for a while. But this provides a resolution for Mayfield, who had requested a trade as the Browns entered the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes. The Browns moved to acquire Watson, who changed his mind on Cleveland after the team proposed a fully guaranteed $230MM deal. That transaction has become one of the most controversial moves in NFL history, with Watson facing potentially a season-long suspension.
Mayfield, 27, has hovered in the background during that saga, with the Browns excusing him from minicamp. If he prevails against Darnold during the Panthers’ training camp, Carolina will deploy Mayfield against a likely Jacoby Brissett-quarterbacked Cleveland squad in Week 1. If Mayfield wins the job, he will be the Panthers’ fourth Week 1 quarterback in four seasons. Matt Rhule has acquired a starter-caliber QB in each of his three seasons at the helm, signing Teddy Bridgewater to replace Cam Newton and trading for Sam Darnold to succeed Bridgewater. Darnold, 25, is now in danger of being replaced, as Rhule navigates a hot seat.
Mayfield now has a few weeks to prepare for training camp with Carolina. His path to Charlotte encountered a hurdle during the draft, when the Browns were willing to pay barely $3MM of his salary. This led to talks breaking down and the Panthers trading into Round 3 to draft Matt Corral. The team circling back to Mayfield puts Corral on a developmental path, as the Browns hold a competition between 2018’s first two QBs drafted.
Despite Mayfield leading the Browns to their first playoff berth since 2002, he played through a major shoulder injury last season and saw his value crater. After a 10th-place QBR finish in 2020 — a 26-touchdown pass, 10-interception slate — Mayfield ranked 27th last season. Darnold has finished 25th or lower in QBR in each of his four seasons. Mayfield underwent left shoulder surgery in January but is expected to be a full training camp participant.
The 2017 Heisman winner enjoyed a rocky run in Cleveland, playing well in two of his four Browns seasons. A 2019 step back from a promising rookie season preceded Mayfield faring well in Kevin Stefanski‘s offense, but he now faces another prove-it season — one that will go a long way to determining his future earning potential. Mayfield and the Browns tabled extension talks last year. That development proved costly for the ex-Oklahoma superstar, though he can potentially earn an extension from the Panthers or a free agency payday in 2023 — if this season goes well.
Being the only known team enter serious negotiations for Mayfield, the Panthers had been the favorites to acquire him. While Mayfield said during a podcast appearance the Seahawks might be his most likely landing spot, Seattle was not believed to be interested in him via trade — only as a free agent signing. The Panthers ensured that could not take place. Carolina was similarly interested in Jimmy Garoppolo only as a potential free agent. Wednesday’s trade narrows the four-plus-year 49ers starter’s options as well.
Obtained for three draft picks — including a 2022 second-rounder — last year, Darnold struggled for much of his Panthers debut. The former No. 3 overall pick ranked 29th in QBR and missed time with an injury, continuing a trend on that front as well. Mayfield represents the USC product’s biggest threat to a starting role, with Darnold having smooth tracks toward QB1 gigs with the Jets and Panthers through four seasons. The upcoming battle may determine whether Darnold will be able to continue his run as an NFL starter or be resigned to backup roles in the years to come.
DT Beau Allen Retires After Seven Seasons
Veteran defensive tackle Beau Allen took to Twitter today to announce that, after seven seasons of play in the NFL, it was time for him to hang up his cleats. Allen went from a high school graduation in Minnetonka, MN, to winning a Super Bowl eight years later just ten miles east of Minnetonka before ultimately deciding to retire after two years away from the field. 
After graduating high school in a Minneapolis-suburb, Allen spurned his hometown college for a rival, deciding to go to his parents’ alma mater at the University of Wisconsin. Allen found his way to the field early as a Badger but didn’t break out until his sophomore year, when he accumulated 4.0 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Over a four-year career in Madison, Allen totaled 8.0 sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss.
In the 2014 NFL Draft, the Eagles selected Allen early in the 7th round. He made the team’s 53-man roster and went on to play in all but one game over a four-year stay in Philadelphia, including the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII win in Minnesota over the Patriots. He would total 2.0 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits during his time in Philadelphia.
After his rookie contract expired, Allen signed as a free agent with the Buccaneers. He started 8 games during his first season in Tampa Bay, playing in 27 over his two-year stay. His role as a Buccaneer saw him more as a backup behind starters Gerald McCoy and Vita Vea. When McCoy departed for Carolina, the team signed Ndamukong Suh, keeping Allen in his backup role.
After two years in Tampa Bay, Allen signed a free agent deal with the Patriots in 2020. He was placed on injured reserve to start the season, designated to return in late-October. As Allen returned to practice to ready for his New England-debut, he suffered an injury in practice and was ruled out for the season. He was released from the team the following March.
After a year on the Patriots’ injured reserved and a year untouched on the free agent market, it appears Allen settled along the decision to retire. A seven-year career is nothing to scoff at, especially from a seventh-round pick. Adding a Super Bowl ring in the process is a nice prize to take with, as well, but leaving with your health may be the biggest take away at the end of the day.
Eagles Sign Round 2 C Cam Jurgens, Finalize Draft Class Deals
The Eagles have finished their draft class signings for 2022. They signed second-round center Cam Jurgens on Friday, locking down the final member of their five-man class.
This marked the second straight year the Eagles used a second-round pick on an interior offensive lineman. They drafted Alabama’s Landon Dickerson in 2021, and while Dickerson finished his Crimson Tide career as a center, he moved alongside Jason Kelce to start his pro career. Jurgens looks more like Kelce’s heir apparent. Philly obtained Jurgens with the No. 51 overall pick.
Jurgens started at center nearly throughout his Nebraska career, moving into the Cornhuskers’ lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2019. The Beatrice, Neb., native was the first true or redshirt freshman center to start a Huskers season opener. While Jurgens maxed out at third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2021, he became the second center from this class selected — behind 2021 first-team All-Big Ten snapper Tyler Linderbaum — this year.
Kelce, 34, put off retirement for another year, alerting the Eagles he would be back just before free agency began. The All-Pro blocker is signed through 2023. Jurgens’ rookie contract will run through 2025. Kelce has been a first-team All-Pro center in four of the past five seasons, putting himself on the Hall of Fame radar. This certainly gives Philly a qualified mentor for Jurgens, who did not see notable time at guard in college.
Here is the Eagles’ full draft class:
Round 1: No. 13 (from Browns through Texans) Jordan Davis, DT (Georgia) (signed)
Round 2: No. 51 Cam Jurgens, C (Nebraska) (signed)
Round 3: No. 83 Nakobe Dean, LB (Georgia) (signed)
Round 6: No. 181 (from Lions): Kyron Johnson, LB (Kansas) (signed)
Round 6: No. 198 (from Steelers through Jaguars): TE Grant Calcaterra, TE (SMU) (signed)
Cowboys To Re-Sign K Lirim Hajrullahu
The Cowboys will have a familiar face on special teams during training camp later this month. The team is re-signing kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link).
The 32-year-old put himself on the NFL radar with his play in the CFL over the course of a six-year career there. That tenure included two all-star seasons and a Grey Cup championship. It earned him the opportunity to showcase himself in the United States, beginning in the 2020 offseason.
In April of that year, Hajrullahu signed with the Rams as they searched for Greg Zuerlein‘s replacement. He wasn’t able to win the job, however, as Los Angeles tapped Sam Sloman for the top spot. That began a cycle of brief stints in the Spring League and on multiple NFL teams’ practice squads for Hajrullahu in the proceeding two years.
That included time with the Panthers and, later, Cowboys in 2021. He made a total of four appearances last season, converting four of five field goal attempts and going eight-for-eight on extra points. His time in Dallas has earned him another opportunity to replace Zurlein, whom the Cowboys released earlier this offseason.
The team previously had only undrafted rookie Jonathan Garibay on the roster, leading to expectations that they would add competition at the position. Hajrullahu represents a veteran option, but Dallas could still bring in further candidates for the starting role in the coming weeks.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/30/22
One minor transaction to pass along:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: P Dom Maggio
The Falcons brought in some experience at punter earlier today when they signed former Buccaneers special teamer Bradley Pinion. Atlanta ultimately decided to hang on to UDFA Seth Vernon as the second punter on their current 90-man squad, leading to Maggio getting waived.
Maggio made three All-ACC teams during his time at Wake Forest. He ultimately saw time in 52 games in college, ranking second in school history with 291 punts and 12,703 yards. The 24-year-old hasn’t seen the field for a regular-season NFL contest.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/30/22
Here are the mid- and late-round picks to sign their four-year rookie deals Thursday:
Carolina Panthers
- LB Brandon Smith (fourth round, Penn State)
The Panthers made a notable trade-up maneuver on Day 3 to acquire Smith, sending the Commanders two fifth-round picks in exchange for the No. 120 overall selection. Washington used one of those Carolina choices to nab Sam Howell atop Round 5 (at No. 144). The Panthers, who had already traded back into the third round for Matt Corral, focused on defense atop Day 3. Smith made 81 tackles (nine for loss) and tallied two sacks as a senior, doing so ahead of clocking a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. This signing leaves Corral as the last unsigned Panthers draftee.
Falcons, P Bradley Pinion Agree To Deal
Not long after his Buccaneers release, Bradley Pinion found a new home. The veteran punter is signing with the Falcons, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). It’s a one-year agreement.
A seven-year veteran specialist, Pinion spent the past three seasons with the Bucs. Pinion played through a torn hip labrum last season, but after passing a physical on the way out of Tampa, he should be in line to take over as the next Falcons punter.
Pinion, 28, has been a punter and his team’s primary kickoff man throughout his career. The 49ers used him in these capacities from 2015-18, and the Bucs deployed Pinion as their kickoff man during his stay as well. As for punting, Pinion reached his top average in the Bucs’ Super Bowl-winning season. The Clemson alum averaged 45.2 yards per boot that year. The hip trouble likely contributed to Pinion’s average dropping to a career-low 42.5 in 2021.
The Falcons used three punters last season and they have not featured any consistency at this specialty spot since injuries ended Matt Bosher‘s run during the 2019 season. Veterans Dustin Colquitt and Thomas Morstead joined Cameron Nizialek in working as Atlanta’s primary punter throughout the 2021 campaign. None of those three are on Atlanta’s 2022 roster.
The Falcons have Dom Maggio and rookie UDFA Seth Vernon on their 90-man offseason squad. Neither has punted in an NFL regular-season game.
Commanders, WR Terry McLaurin Agree On Extension
Amid an explosive offseason at the wide receiver position, another major domino is falling. The Commanders and Terry McLaurin agreed to terms on a three-year extension Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
Washington is giving its top target a contract worth up to $71MM, Schefter notes, with a receiver-high $28MM signing bonus (Twitter link). In terms of average annual value, the Commanders went to $23.3MM for the fourth-year standout, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The Commanders are guaranteeing 76.4% of the contract, per Schefter, giving the Ohio State alum long-term security and the chance to cash in again in the not-too-distant future. While McLaurin will be protected against injury, the signing bonus represents most of his full guarantee. This deal includes $34.6MM guaranteed at signing Rapoport tweets. That figure ranks just 14th among wideouts, but Washington will add to that total with $12.5MM more becoming guaranteed in March 2023.
A lengthy negotiation that included McLaurin stepping away from the team’s offseason activities for weeks — headlined by a minicamp absence — keyed a resolution. This conclusion will certainly have a significant effect on the rapidly shifting wideout market. AAV-wise, McLaurin, 26, becomes the NFL’s seventh-highest-paid receiver. But the former third-round pick’s deal creates a clear divide between No. 7 and No. 8 (D.J. Moore, who signed a $20.6MM-per-year deal earlier this offseason). Considering McLaurin, Moore and Mike Williams (also extended at $20MM AAV this year) each have no Pro Bowl invites on their respective resumes, McLaurin scoring this deal represents a win.
By agreeing to a three-year accord, McLaurin will be signed through the 2025 season. He will turn 30 that year. Should the Commanders want to continue with McLaurin for the late 2020s, he could have the back end of his prime to factor into those prospective negotiations. For now, however, another of the 2019 receiver draftees has scored a big payday. Deebo Samuel, D.K. Metcalf and Diontae Johnson will be interested observers. Samuel and Metcalf figure to target A.J. Brown‘s Eagles deal (four years, $100MM), but McLaurin’s re-up figures to be of particular interest to Johnson’s camp.
Talks during the minicamp McLaurin missed failed to produce a deal, and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes (on Twitter) the two parties backed off for a bit. Tuesday represented the breakthrough. Ron Rivera expressed optimism for a 2022 McLaurin deal on multiple occasions this offseason, and the third-year Commanders HC added that the team would not trade its premier aerial threat. Rivera and GM Martin Mayhew stuck to those guns and have an intriguing receiver duo for the long haul. Both McLaurin and first-round wideout Jahan Dotson are signed through 2025. Dotson can be kept through 2026 on a fifth-year option.
Washington did not receive much from Curtis Samuel last season, with injuries interrupting the former Buckeye’s D.C. debut. But the ex-Panther is tied to a hefty contract as well — three years, $34.5MM. The McLaurin and Samuel contracts, along with the team’s Dotson investment, represent a lofty commitment to the receiver position ahead of Carson Wentz‘s first Washington season. Wentz’s set of Washington weaponry certainly appears to outflank, depth-wise, the troops he played with in Indianapolis. Given the injury problems the Eagles dealt with at receiver during the latter half of Wentz’s Philadelphia tenure, Washington’s seemingly well-rounded trio provides an interesting opportunity for the 29-year-old passer.
Through three McLaurin seasons, Washington struggled to assemble complementary help for its No. 1 weapon. But the 6-foot target kept producing. McLaurin has averaged more yards per game than Metcalf over the course of his career (67.2) and is riding back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. McLaurin doing so with a host of quarterbacks — from college teammate Dwayne Haskins to a near-the-end Alex Smith to Taylor Heinicke — should give the Commanders confidence the production will continue with Wentz.
Bears Sign Second-Round CB Kyler Gordon
The Bears have inked their top draft pick to a contract. The team announced that they have signed second-round Kyler Gordon to his four-year rookie contract.
The Bears traded off their 2022 first-round pick in order to acquire QB Justin Fields during the 2021 draft, so they were armed with the No. 39 selection heading into the 2022 selection show. The front office ended up using their top pick on the Washington cornerback, and for good reason.
Gordon was a standout during four seasons with the Huskies. In 33 games, the defensive back collected 98 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, two interceptions, 14 passes deflected, and a pair of forced fumbles. He earned first-team all-Pac 12 honors in 2021 after finishing with 46 tackles.
The rookie cornerback is expected to start opposite Jaylon Johnson at cornerback. If Gordon hits a rookie wall, he could see some competition from the likes of Kindle Vildor or Duke Shelley.
With the signing, the Bears have now signed 11 of their 12 draft picks. Second-round safety Jaquan Brisker is the only rookie to remain unsigned.
Pats Restructure David Andrews’ Contract
The NFL team that currently holds the smallest amount of salary cap space for the 2022 season completed a move today in order to provide a little bit of breathing room. ESPN’s Field Yates reported today that the Patriots restructured the contract of veteran center David Andrews, granting them a bit of cap space for the upcoming season. 
Andrews went undrafted in 2015, signing with New England as a free agent. Due to injuries to then-starting center Bryan Stork and backup Ryan Wendell, Andrews impressed in ample playing time during the preseason and earned the starting spot for Week 1 of his rookie season. He eventually ceded the position to his healthy teammates, but beat out Stork in an offseason competition for the starting job the following season.
Andrews has gone on to hold down the center position as a full-time starter for the past six years, excluding the 2019 season that saw him miss the entire year due to a pulmonary embolism. He did miss four games in the season immediately following 2019, but proved his health last year by playing 98.6% of the Patriots’ offensive snaps, with the next closest lineman being Shaq Mason who was on the field for 86.5% of New England’s offensive snaps.
After Andrews had completed his first season as a full-time starter in 2016, he and the Patriots agreed to a three-year, $9MM contract extension. After playing out that contract to become a free agent last offseason, Andrews decided to re-sign with New England on a four-year, $19MM deal.
The restructuring completed today reportedly creates $2.1MM in cap space for the 2022 season by converting $3.15MM of compensation into a signing bonus. Andrews’ contract will now hold a cap hit of $4.28MM for the upcoming season as the Patriots look to regain supremacy atop the AFC East.