Panthers reportedly not interested in Baker Mayfield

The Baker Mayfield trade market is drying up quickly. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers reportedly not interested in Browns QB Baker Mayfield

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 3/22/22

The news seemingly only gets worse for Baker Mayfield on a daily basis in the early stages of spring.

Mayfield lost his starting job Friday when reports surfaced the Cleveland Browns had completed a trade with the Houston Texans for controversial star signal-caller Deshaun Watson. The 2018 first-overall draft pick was quickly linked with clubs in need of assistance at the sport's most important position, specifically the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers.

One of those teams may already have removed itself from such discussions, according to ESPN's David Newton.

Regarding reports that the Panthers are interested in Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield, I am told that’s not true.
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) March 22, 2022

The Panthers are one of several clubs that missed out on Watson and could use an upgrade over Sam Darnold. However, multiple mock drafts currently predict Carolina will spend the sixth-overall selection of the upcoming draft on former Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett, who presumably would rise to the top of the depth chart this summer and not compete with a veteran such as Darnold or Mayfield.

Per reports shared Monday, the Browns are in no rush to jettison Mayfield for pennies on the dollar, and no team has yet matched any rumored asking price for the 26-year-old owed $18.858 million in fully guaranteed money for the 2022 campaign via the fifth-year option attached to his rookie contract.

Mayfield's perceived value is currently so low, it's believed the Browns could ultimately cut him and open the door for a team such as the Pittsburgh Steelers to sign him on a discounted deal. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints all added quarterbacks on Monday and, thus, have no reason to trade any assets for Mayfield before the draft.

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