Baker Mayfield trade grades: Panthers better off at QB, Browns put a bow on the mismanaged situation Baker Mayfield and the Browns eventuall...

Baker Mayfield trade grades: Panthers better off at QB, Browns put a bow on the mismanaged situation

Baker Mayfield and the Browns eventually parted ways on Wednesday, with Cleveland trading the Panthers a former No. 1 overall draft pick in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round conditional pick. The move closes out two separate quarterback positions, both of which are messy: Carolina has finally added in an overwhelming group of signal-callers ahead of the 2022 training camp, while Cleveland has officially replaced them for Deshaun Watson. Paved the way for being the only premium investment. hub.

Browns: D

Let's start with this: You cannot unlink the circumstances that led to Mayfield's exit from the business. More than likely, there would be no divorce if it weren't stopping Deshaan Watson from hopping her wagon to Cleveland, while the ex-Texan star still faced allegations of sexual assault or misconduct from more than two dozen women. Watson, to be fair, has not faced criminal charges for his alleged serial misconduct, but he is still expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2022 season under NFL suspension. Even if you were prepared to take the on-and-off-field risks associated with them all, Mayfield almost certainly would have been a better fill-in for a roster than backup Jacoby Brissette, who would otherwise have had a playoff run right now. was created for. And it also doesn't account for his familiarity with the system or his moxie that won many fans in Cleveland.

Therefore, the Browns can only blame themselves for Mayfield, a 27-year-old proven starter with multiple playoff starts, to bring in a single future late-rounder. Why? Because they are responsible for isolating him to such an extent that reconciliation was impossible. Was it wrong for him to seek an upgrade this off-season, especially after Mayfield was injured in 2021? Not necessarily. But when your prized replacement is Watson, a polarizing QB who hasn't played in two years and can't play for another, you'd better make sure you have a backup plan that doesn't involve selling your former No. 1 pick. Is. For a conditional fifth two years down the road. The move saved the Browns $8 million in 2022, with the Panthers agreeing to pay Mayfield nearly $5M, and Mayfield himself taking a pay cut, but there's no getting around the mismanagement that allowed him to lose his money. Forced to eat any salary.

Consider that, earlier this season, the Colts had essentially netted two third-rounders for Carson Wentz, whose split from Indianapolis was all too publicly predictable, and whose recent numbers put him likewise a mid-rounder. Considered a level starter. Wentz, by the way, costs his acquisition team $28M in 2022, as opposed to the $5M the Panthers will pay Mayfield as a test starter. Whatever your opinion of Mayfield as a long-term option, there is no getting around the fact that the Browns are the losers here.

Panthers: A-

Why not after all? Mayfield's arrival is by no means the end of a fruitless string of QB gambles from the Matt Roulette-Scott Fitterer-David Taper regime. His inconsistency as a starter in four seasons probably puts him on the same level as Carolina's recent signal-callers, especially Teddy Bridgewater. He's looking a lot more useful than ever, special thanks to a great race in Cleveland. But the pinnacle of his early career has been much more promising than that of Sam Darnold, who will officially "compete" this summer to keep the job. And that one-year rental costing Carolina just $5M comes in at a bargain.

The 2024 fifth-rounder The Panthers sent Brown could become fourth based on play time, but that too is hardly a tough pill to swallow if Mayfield proves to be able to keep the team competitive. If he only brings ability under center is a legitimate path for a roulette squad to play spoilers in the NFC, the Panthers have Christian McCaffrey, D.J., on both sides of the ball. Moore, and an improved offensive line for Brian Burns, Derrick Brown, and Jesse Horn on "D". Couple that with the uncertainty of the Saints and Falcons, and you might find yourself talking a wild-card bid out of the NFC South, especially as Mayfield seeks to rebuild its value before 2023 free agency.

Worst case scenario, Mayfield flops and proves to be no better than his immediate surroundings, and the Panthers let him run in 2023, proceeding with the QB reset (and possible regime reset), the luck they would have anyway. were in In a best-case scenario, Baker brings some much-needed juice into his QB room, really capitalizes on some of the talents around him, and gives the Panthers a start to lock in a potential long-term starter without spending extra draft capital. start again.