In perhaps one of the most drawn out news stories of the 2022 NFL offseason, former Browns QB Baker Mayfield has officially been traded to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for 2024 conditional draft pick, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The trade was finalized after a tumultuous offseason for the Cleveland Browns, headlined by the team’s blockbuster trade for former Texans QB Deshaun Watson. 

The Browns will still be on the hook for $10.5 million of Mayfield’s 2022 salary, while the Panthers are only obliged to pay $4.85 million, as Mayfield agreed to incentivize the remaining $18.5 million of his 2022 base salary. 

Cleveland owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam commented on Mayfield’s time in Cleveland following the trade: “We want to thank Baker for all his contributions to the Cleveland Browns. From the moment he was drafted, he gave his all for this organization and this city. With his fierce competitive spirit, he excited the fanbase and accomplished things that no player at his position had done in Cleveland for a very long time.”

Outside of the 2020-2021 NFL season, where the Browns fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, Mayfield’s time in Cleveland could be defined as nothing more than mediocre. During Mayfield’s four seasons in Cleveland, he compiled a 30-31 record as a starter while completing 61.6% of his passes for 14,125 yards and 92 touchdowns to go along with 56 interceptions for a QB rating of 87.8. 

Mayfield will now have the opportunity to compete with former No. 3 overall pick, Sam Darnold, for Carolina’s starting QB job in what will be his fourth new offensive system in five seasons.