The Panthers are only responsible for $4.86MM of Baker Mayfield‘s 2022 salary. The Browns are paying $10.5MM. While the recently traded quarterback agreed to a trade-facilitating pay cut, incentives are present in his deal that would allow him to recoup some of his $3.5MM cut.
Team- and statistical-based incentives are present here, with Field Yates of ESPN.com detailing the escalator package Mayfield agreed to with Carolina (Twitter link). Though, most of them are not likely to be earned. The most realistic team-based bump would come if Mayfield plays 75% of the Panthers’ offensive snaps and the team wins 10 games. Additional incentives are in place for Panthers divisional-round wins, a Super Bowl LVII appearance and a Super Bowl win.
If the Panthers rank in the top 10 in total offense (or top five in the NFC), Mayfield would earn $300K, Yates notes. An additional $300K bump would come if the Panthers’ offense ranked in the top 10 (or top five in the NFC) in scoring. Mayfield attempting at least 224 passes and ranking top 10 in the NFL (or top five in the NFC) in completion percentage would result in another $300K bonus. A $500K Pro Bowl incentive also exists here.
Mayfield is 0-for-4 in Pro Bowl invites, leading to the original $18.9MM fifth-year option price tag. He has also not previously ranked in the top 10 in completion percentage in a season, topping out at 24th (63.8) during his 2018 rookie year. The Browns also fell short of the points and yardage thresholds in each of Mayfield’s four seasons, adding to the uphill climb here.
The recently traded QB has banked $32.7MM, through his four-year rookie deal. While it looks like he will have to wait until 2023 to cross the $50MM career-earnings barrier, the trade to Carolina stands to put the ex-Cleveland starter in a better position to cash in on the 2023 open market. The Panthers also have exclusive negotiating rights until next year’s legal tampering period, but GM Scott Fitterer said the team is likely a ways away from going down that road.
I think the Panthers will draft 1st. There’s just too many issues w/in the organization. It seems to be disjointed. All 3 QB’s will see game time action as well which is a bad sign.
Not unless Mayfield gets hurt. He’s much better than Darnold. He’s average but Darnold isn’t even that. Mayfield’s injuries played a factor last year
I’m not mocking Baker. But the owner comes across as an impatient jerk, the HC was looking at college jobs this offseason, & the GM really hasn’t built a good roster.
I think it will be a total reboot (GM, HC, & QB room) next offseason. We’ll see.
I think they already know what they have with Darnold and if winning more games than last year will save their jobs,I doubt they go back to Darnold unless Baker is horrible or hurt
Baker no longer plays for that clown organization, move along. Don’t you have a sexual sex offender to defend?
I agree which is why it made no sense to trade up for Matt C. Wasting picks already knowing Baker and Grap would be available. That’s bad management.
They get to try out Mayfield for a year. If he does good, they sign him before he hit free agency. If he does bad, they get a comp pick (which will be close to the pick they gave Cleveland) and it cost them 4.8 million. As for Corral, the draft happened before the trade. A trade is never a sure thing
Watson signed w/ Cleveland March 18th. About a month before the draft. He was available. So why trade up for Matt C? Poorly run organization.
Corral can still learn for the year and either be a backup or a starter. Most 3rd round quarterbacks aren’t drafted to be franchise quarterbacks. And just because Mayfield was available doesn’t mean the Panthers and Browns were inevitably gonna be trade partners
Naaah Texans will… with the Browns pick.
Congrats to Baker for finally getting away from such a trash franchise. Once Watson is suspended for the entire year we should laugh at how incompetent the browns front office is. Also we should laugh at fudgepacker9, he’s still holding out to be Watson next victim and it just hasn’t happened yet.
Hey beerbelly guy….there’s no way Watson gets more than 8 games. Probably less. I love that it bothers you so much. Stop back after the decision is made so I can fun of you even more. Now get on that fantasy geek football you play
Okay fudgepacker9 go back into the closet with your Watson cutout. Real football fans and not people hoping to find a same sex partner on here know Watson is getting the whole year suspension
Why does everyone on here talk about homosexuality? I thought this was a football site. You give new meaning to fantasy football. Please don’t combine the two