Panthers Trade Talks for Baker Mayfield Fell Apart Over Guaranteed Money, Drafted a QB Instead

The Panthers and Browns were in talks for Baker Mayfield on Friday night.  A deal couldn't be reached and Carolina ended up drafting quarterback Matt Corral instead.

The trade talks reportedly fell apart over the $18 million that Mayfield is due in 2022.  The Panthers wanted the Browns to pay a significant amount of that money.

I’m told the Baker Mayfield talks between the #Panthers and #Browns are halted. The two teams have not been able to come to terms on dividing up Mayfield’s $18.8 million in guaranteed money next season.

— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) April 30, 2022

#Panthers have traded up into the third and drafted Ole Miss QB Matt Corral. https://t.co/VZ50qVpc4C

— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) April 30, 2022

Panthers GM Scott Fitterer says getting Matt Corral takes him out of the market for a veteran, namely Baker Mayfield.

— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) April 30, 2022

This sounds like a half-hearted attempt to land Mayfield if you ask me.  If you trade for him then you would want him to stay past next season and you sign him to a new deal.

They were hoping to get him for very little money for one season.  That makes zero sense.