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The deal is pending a physical.
The fifth-round pick could convert to a fourth-round pick
depending on Mayfield's playing time with the Panthers.
A barrier to a potential Mayfield trade to Carolina had been
money, with Mayfield due to earn $18.8 million on his fifth-year
option. But NFL Network reported all parties worked together to
make it work. The Browns will pay Mayfield about $10.5 million,
with the Panthers picking up about $5 million.
Mayfield agreed to cut the remaining $3 million-plus off his
pay.
He will not have long to wait to see his former team. The
Panthers host the Browns in Week 1 on Sept. 11 in Charlotte,
N.C.
In Carolina, the 27-year-old Mayfield will compete with Sam
Darnold for the starting job. Darnold was selected No. 3 overall
by the New York Jets in 2018 -- the same year the Browns took
Mayfield No. 1 in hopes he'd stop the game of musical chairs at
the position in Cleveland. But Darnold didn't impress in his one
season in Carolina last season after a trade from the Jets.
Mayfield was 29-30 as the starter with the Browns and completed
61.6 percent of his passes for 14,125 yards, 92 touchdowns and
56 interceptions. After an injury-marred season in 2021 and
growing discontent between the two sides, the Browns' front
office said Mayfield would be their starter in 2022. But their
acquisition of Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans in March,
despite more than 20 civil lawsuits from women alleging sexual
misconduct, sealed the split with Mayfield.
The Browns are awaiting a ruling as to whether the NFL will
suspend Watson after an investigation and a multiday hearing
conducted last week by league disciplinary officer Sue L.
Robinson last week.
Two grand juries in Texas elected not to indict Watson.
--Field Level Media
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