Could Panthers look to trade for Browns' Baker Mayfield before June 14?

It was reported last week that the "door isn't 100% shut" on the Carolina Panthers potentially trading for Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. Carolina is presumably still looking for an upgrade over starter Sam Darnold who would keep 2022 third-round draft pick Matt Corral on the sidelines for at least a year. 

As has been the case since even before Cleveland acquired star signal-caller Deshaun Watson in March, the biggest issue preventing Carolina and other clubs from landing Mayfield continues to be the $18.858 million of fully guaranteed salary owed to the 27-year-old for the upcoming season. Some Panthers fans are, however, getting impatient ahead of the Memorial Day holiday. 

For a piece published Wednesday, Jonathan M. Alexander and Ellis L. Williams of The Charlotte Observer were directly asked when the Panthers could trade for Mayfield. Williams responded that "the Panthers will continue to monitor" Mayfield's situation "through the summer" even though Carolina is looking to avoid paying much, if not all, of Mayfield's salary. 

"June 2 remains a significant date on the NFL calendar because of the change in salary-cap implications," Williams explained. "Only the current year’s bonus counts toward the cap when players are released or traded after June 1. For example, if traded or cut before June 1, Robbie Anderson would cost $19 million in dead money, making him impossible to move. But after June 1, the Panthers only would carry about $9 million in dead (money) from an Anderson trade." 

Williams continued: "Ideally, Carolina has a veteran quarterback in place by June 14, the start of mandatory minicamp." 

That last part is interesting if only because the Panthers reportedly aren't the only team interested in Mayfield. Earlier this week, analyst Ross Tucker became the latest person to link the 2018 first overall draft pick with the Seattle Seahawks, and it's been said Seattle would look to sign Mayfield if Cleveland cuts him before training camp. 

If the Panthers truly want Mayfield in the building for mandatory minicamp, they're quickly running out of time to come to terms on a trade.