Trade: [CAR/CLE] Baker Mayfield for 2024 conditional 5th round pick

[TheAngryHank]

Hope he kills it , I'm pulling for him.

 

[Troy McClure]

Baker apparently gave up $3.5 mill as Cle is paying like $10 mill and Car is paying $5 mill. He was due like $19 mill.

The $3.5 mill bet that he plays well enough to earn starter money for next season. Probably the smart call. But probably should have offered that a month ago when teams had their organized team activities going on to at least get the new playbook.

The $3.5 million is essentially converted to incentives, and it sounds like if he plays the full season, he's likely to earn it all back. His gamble seems to be that he'll earn the starting job and hold it down to get his full salary.

If he does, the pick also converts to a 4th rounder.

It sounds like the trade really is Carolina gets Baker on a discount, and the Browns get a 4th rounder and $8 million in cap relief.

 

[DougieSmash]

If healthy, I think Mayfield is top 10 QB. That doesn't mean thaaaat much nowadays but he could be good starter.

I think that Panthers could be okay this season pushing for wild card. They upgrade the O line and QB. If Horn, Henderson and Brown takes the next step, that's good roster.

 

[donghabs98]

Brown played this situation as bad as possible

Typical Browns

 

[StreetHawk]

The $3.5 million is essentially converted to incentives, and it sounds like if he plays the full season, he's likely to earn it all back. His gamble seems to be that he'll earn the starting job and hold it down to get his full salary.

If he does, the pick also converts to a 4th rounder.

It sounds like the trade really is Carolina gets Baker on a discount, and the Browns get a 4th rounder and $8 million in cap relief.

More about securing his next contract that earning his full salary this season. He was due to entire $19 mill. But not playing this season would hurt him next off season.

Baker would have been wise to just eat the $3.5 mill and secure complete free agency with Carolina promising to not tag him. But I guess he doesn’t have that kind of clout.

 

[Barnaby]

It is what it is for Baker.
Don’t know how they’ll do in that division.

@snipes the Drew Lock era begins in Seattle!

Bryce Young Eve in Seattle

 

[Barnaby]

More about securing his next contract that earning his full salary this season. He was due to entire $19 mill. But not playing this season would hurt him next off season.

Baker would have been wise to just eat the $3.5 mill and secure complete free agency with Carolina promising to not tag him. But I guess he doesn’t have that kind of clout.

How was that ever an option? He was owed 19 million by Cleveland this upcoming season. The only way he’d be a free agent is if they cut him and paid him the whole thing. Carolina is still paying him a hefty portion. He’s risking 3.5 for the chance to start in Carolina.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Wao only a 5th? Why so cheap? Isn't Baker an above-average QB? Expected at least a 2nd since that's what Garoppolo got.

Look at all the teams across the NFL and ask which ones Baker Mayfield would be the starting QB. Not many....he'd be in the mix for a few no doubt.

And someo of the ones where he might probably have a highly drafted QB that they are betting on for future, at least over Baker MAyfield...

 

[BB88]

Look at all the teams across the NFL and ask which ones Baker Mayfield would be the starting QB. Not many....he'd be in the mix for a few no doubt.

And someo of the ones where he might probably have a highly drafted QB that they are betting on for future, at least over Baker MAyfield...

They spent 230M quaranteed on another QB and told the World Baker is not their guy and they need to get rid of him.

Browns created a situation where they has zerp leverage

 

[Filthy Dangles]

They spent 230M quaranteed on another QB and told the World Baker is not their guy and they need to get rid of him.

Browns created a situation where they has zerp leverage

While true, that doesn't affect how other teams around the league view and value him though. if he was valued highly, there would have been competition for him which obviously drives up the price.

he's clearly not viewed as that good of a QB around the league.

 

[BB88]

While true, that doesn't affect how other teams around the league view and value him though. if he was valued highly, there would have been competition for him which obviously drives up the price.

he's clearly not viewed as that good of a QB around the league.

Of course last year hurt him, playing through injuries but you are kidding yourself if you think the Gms are happy with Cleveland.
Absolutely nobody was going to do them favourts, everyone knew the relationship between Browns and Baker was beyond repair.

If they traded him before Watson they woukd have gotten more but they drove themselves into the corner

 

[Troy McClure]

Of course last year hurt him, playing through injuries but you are kidding yourself if you think the Gms are happy with Cleveland.
Absolutely nobody was going to do them favourts, everyone knew the relationship between Browns and Baker was beyond repair.

If they traded him before Watson they woukd have gotten more but they drove themselves into the corner

No matter how mad GMs are at the Browns, no one is sitting out upgrading their QB position if they think Baker is an upgrade. QB is too important for a GM to not go after one out of spite. The small market for Baker had nothing to do with how the Browns handled it.

 

[BB88]

No matter how mad GMs are at the Browns, no one is sitting out upgrading their QB position if they think Baker is an upgrade. QB is too important for a GM to not go after one out of spite. The small market for Baker had nothing to do with how the Browns handled it.

It 100% did.

I’ve been too bored and followed this a lot and all experts say the same thing.

 

[Troy McClure]

More about securing his next contract that earning his full salary this season. He was due to entire $19 mill. But not playing this season would hurt him next off season.

Baker would have been wise to just eat the $3.5 mill and secure complete free agency with Carolina promising to not tag him. But I guess he doesn’t have that kind of clout.

Some of the hold up here was getting Baker to agree to this kind of restructure. I get why it took a few weeks for him to agree to do so. Carolina is a shit place to end up to try to prove to the NFL you deserve a starting job. Rhule is probably getting fired either during this coming season or after it. Baker already isn't a good play from behind QB, so he and his people knew Carolina was a bad destination. The team is a mess. Even if Baker plays as well as he can, he's still going to end up with a losing record.

It 100% did.

I’ve been too bored and followed this a lot and all experts say the same thing.

Football talking heads say a lot of dumb things.

 

[Josepho]

I can't believe I feel inclined to root for Baker.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I can't believe I feel inclined to root for Baker.

I'm a Bengals fan, and I'm on the fence about this.

 

[TheAngryHank]

Browns v panthers week 1

 

[TheAngryHank]

I'm a Bengals fan, and I'm on the fence about this.

Your avater.. reminds me of mine.

 

[Pestilence]

Baker's value would be better if he shut it down last year after the injury, and it could've been better for the Browns as well, he just wasn't the same QB with that shoulder. I wonder why he's not liked in the locker room though, seems like a warrior that loves the game and wants to win.

That being said I guess if his value is a fifth round pick now, it seems that NFL teams don't expect him to bounce back.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

I'll never stop laughing at the f***ing Browns...and they'll never stop making me laugh.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Good move for Panthers

No real downside if he doesn't work out but good upside potential here

 

[Holden Caulfield]

So who does Cleveland plan to start this year? Are they gonna just tank this year? Cause we know Watson isnt playing this season.

 

[Troy McClure]

So who does Cleveland plan to start this year? Are they gonna just tank this year? Cause we know Watson isnt playing this season.

The answer depends on the Watson suspension.
They're not tanking. That's not an option, but they seem to be planning on going with Brissett as their starter for any games Watson misses.

An odd thing though is how the Browns have given Watson virtually all of the snaps in the offseason programs when you might expect them to give some work to Brissett if they really do expect him to start a significant number of games.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

The Browns aren't going to make the playoffs with Brisket at quarterback and the Bengals/Ravens in their division.

 

[eXile3]

Kind of wanted to the Panther's to tank for Young and get a new coach. Well, they have new offensive line that should at least be better than years past, CMC, DJ Moore, Robbie Anderson. Baker has talent around him. Not sure about the coaching staff and OC.

As stated, still an upgrade over Darnold. Dude just couldn't see the game.