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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 15: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns gets ready to run onto the field prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 15: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns gets ready to run onto the field prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
The Carolina Panthers released their starting quarterback on Monday. Baker Mayfield only played six games with the team before they let him go. While many thought the Panthers solely decided to put him on a waiver, a fresh development has come out which claims that the 27-year-old asked for his release.
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The 2022 season was a bust for the veteran QB. He was the starting QB for the Cleveland Browns, but he went from almost signing a new contract to getting traded to Carolina. Baker Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers five months ago in exchange for their 2024 fifth-round draft pick from the Browns.
Baker Mayfield requested to be released and the Panthers honored it this morning, team says.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 5, 2022
Many anticipated his removal because the interim coach, Steve Wilks, had put Mayfield as the third quarterback on the depth chart. According to that, Sam Darnold became the starting QB, PJ Walker, his backup, and the Heisman Trophy winner would have been the third quarterback.
Therefore, the decision that the team and the shot-caller took was mutual. He will hit the waiver wire where he will be up for grabs by different teams. However, if no team showed interest in him, the first-round overall pick will become a free agent.
The sudden downfall of Baker Mayfield
The Browns chose Mayfield as their No. 1 overall pick in 2018. There, he flourished as a rookie and set a record for throwing 27 touchdown passes. By doing that, he brought a ray of sunshine to that franchise that had gone 1-31 in the previous two seasons.
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 6, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
The two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year experienced a regression in 2019 and under Freddie Kitchens. But in 2020, he was back to being his talented self.
Cleveland picked up his fifth-year option, but they did not offer him an extension. In 2021, Mayfield suffered a shoulder injury that needed surgery. But the Browns replaced him with Deshaun Watson. Mayfield was 30-31 as the starting QB.
In the off-season, the Panther acquired him for a conditional fifth-round draft pick in 2024. He completed 57.8% of his passes for 1,313 yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions in the six games he played in.
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