Baker Mayfield Trade Rumors: Panthers Have 'Inside Track' for Browns QB Before Draft

According to a report, the Carolinas are the top candidates to land the Cleveland quarterback.

According to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, several teams have shown interest in Mayfield, but the Carolinas have the inside track.

It is now a matter of when, rather than if the Cleveland Browns trade quarterback Baker Mayfield, as they made the decision to move on from him last month when they acquired quarterback Deshaun Watson in a trade with the Houston Texans.

There is no team in need of an offensive signal-caller like the Carolinas, as their quarterback depth chart is currently comprised of Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker.

Even if Carolina selects a quarterback with the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, they may prefer an upgrade over the current starter.

The New York Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Carolinas prior to the 2020 season in order to get some undiscovered potential, but that didn't happen.

In 12 games, including 11 starts, he went 4-7 and completed 59.9% of his passes for 2,528 yards, nine touchdown and 13 picks.

The Cleveland front office decided to make a change at quarterback because of the poor performance of Baker Mayfield last season.

In 14 starts, the former No. 1 overall draft pick completed 60.5 percent of his attempts for 3,020 yards, 17 touchdown and 13 interceptions.

The hope for whichever team acquires him is that he will be much improved in the years to come, as he battled an injury to his non-throwing shoulder for much of the season.

Even with his poor performance last season, which saw him throw 26 touchdown and eight interception, and the fact that he was the starter in 2020 for the first time in over a decade, he has accomplished more than any other player in the league.

There has been some resistance to the idea of acquiring Mayfield in Carolina.

On Friday, Carolina wide receiver Robby Anderson responded to a post about Carolina possibly trading for Mayfield.

It is possible that Anderson doesn't want to see his quarterback get shuffled out since he has played with both of them.

Carolina would be the best place for him to start and surround him with weapons such as running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Anderson, as it would give him the best chance to start and surround him with weapons.

He may have to settle for a backup job next season if the Panthers don't acquire him.