Can the Carolina Panthers reach a comprimise for Baker Mayfield?

Trade talks are reportedly ongoing between the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns for Baker Mayfield, but can a compromise be reached this week?

Shortly before the Carolina Panthers took the practice field for Day 1 of their mandatory minicamp, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that the team was still engaged in serious discussions with the Cleveland Browns regarding a possible trade for Baker Mayfield. Something that’s been in the works for some time now, but the two sides have yet to find any common ground to rubber-stamp the deal.

Jones added that there is now a sense of urgency to get something done as soon as this week in order to provide Mayfield with some time with his new teammates and begin picking up Ben McAdoo’s system ahead of training camp in Spartanburg.

Nothing has materialized as yet. Primarily because the Panthers and Browns cannot agree on how much money either party should take on from Mayfield’s $18.85 million fully guaranteed in 2022.

This was a stumbling block that also prevented the trade from going through during the 2022 NFL Draft before Carolina moved up to take Matt Corral at No. 94 overall. And the situation remains the same according to Jones, who is more clued up than most about what goes on within the Panthers.

"“The main issue remains Mayfield’s salary and how much or how little (the) teams (will) pay. There’s urgency on Carolina’s side to execute the deal soon so Mayfield can get some time in minicamp with the Panthers. For the Browns, it’s the best offer they have. Talks (are) ongoing.”"

Carolina Panthers need to get Baker Mayfield on board as soon as possible

There is now a growing belief that this will happen at some stage. Mayfield’s time with the Browns was over the moment they made a controversial trade for Deshaun Watson and even if the former Clemson standout is suspended by the league, going back to the Heisman Trophy winner is not an option.

This is all about leverage. The Panthers feel like they have plenty as one of the only willing trade suitors for Mayfield, but the Browns won’t want to jeopardize their own chances of making improvements by sacrificing too much dead cap money to get this problem off the books.

Time is of the essence for the Panthers in one sense. If Mayfield comes in too late it will hinder his chances of bouncing back in the best possible way and there is even a chance Carolina stands pat with Sam Darnold and Corral as their preferred options.

Should Mayfield come on board in good time, then the Panthers’ Week 1 game against the Browns becomes a must-watch. What better way for the Oklahoma product to kickstart life in a different environment than by getting one over on the team that cast him aside.

According to Will Kunkel of FOX Charlotte, a deal is not close citing someone within the organization. But there is no smoke without fire and it would be a surprise if this saga didn’t resolve itself one way or another in the coming days.

Mayfield is a wildcard and a definite upgrade on Darnold. But this represents yet another veteran gamble that could go either way – a hallmark of the Matt Rhule era so far.

One could make an argument that if a deal cannot be reached soon, it won’t happen at all. But as is normally the case with Carolina’s quarterback moves, it’s a fluid situation with no definitive outcome.