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The Cleveland Browns had been attempting to find a trade partner for Baker Mayfield ever since they traded for Deshaun Watson back in March. On Wednesday, they finally found one in the Carolina Panthers.

The reported trade didn’t come without a catch, though. As part of the deal, Cleveland has agreed to pay $10.5 million of the $18.86 million remaining on Mayfield’s contract. That’s right, Mayfield will earn more money from the Browns this season than he will from the team he’ll actually be playing for.

Browns trade Baker Mayfield to the Panthers

Baker Mayfield warms up before a game.
Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns warms up before a game against the Green Bay Packers | Stacy Revere/Getty Images

We knew Mayfield’s time in Cleveland was most likely over after the Browns decided to trade five draft picks for Watson and welcome him with a five-year extension worth $230 million guaranteed. Now, whether that decision pays off is a completely different story.

But as for Mayfield, he needed to go. He got his wish on Wednesday.

According to a tweet from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Browns traded Mayfield to the Panthers for a conditional 2024 fifth-round pick. Carolina wasn’t interested in taking on Mayfield’s full 2022 salary, though, so Cleveland had to sweeten the deal.

The Browns will pay Baker Mayfield $10.5 million not to play for them

The Browns still owed Mayfield $18.86 million from the rookie contract he signed in 2018, but the Panthers weren’t willing to pay that full amount. So, the two teams settled on a compromise.

According to a tweet from Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Browns will pay Makefield $10.5 million this season, while the Panthers will only pay him about $5 million. Mayfield kindly agreed to trim about $3.5 million off his base salary to free up $8 million in cap space for Cleveland.

The Browns knew Mayfield had to go, so they’ve decided to pay him $10.5 million not to play for them this year. That’s just about the easiest money the young quarterback will ever make.

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Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

When Jack isn’t writing about sports, he’s watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He’s also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.