Baker Mayfield has gotten his way. Last week, the Cleveland Browns traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers. Mayfield wanted out of Cleveland when the Browns acquired Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. In 2020, Mayfield led the Browns to the playoffs, where they beat the NFL odds at Pittsburgh. Subsequently, the Browns were touted as a team of the future. But in 2021, Cleveland fell back. And Mayfield came off as immature and distracted. This forced the Browns into thinking that Watson was the answer. But the trade is already imploding for Cleveland.
2022 NFL Week Future Market – Baker Mayfield Trade to Carolina Panthers
| Date: | Season Opens on September 8, 2022 |
|---|
2022-23 Cleveland Browns Super Bowl Championship Odds at SBG
| Prop | Odds |
|---|---|
| To win the Super Bowl | +2900 |
| To win the AFC | +1200 |
| To win the AFC North | +300 |
| Over/Under win total TBD | TBD |
2022-23 Carolina Panthers Super Bowl Championship Odds at SBG
| Prop | Odds |
|---|---|
| To win the Super Bowl | +11000 |
| To win the NFC | +6600 |
| To win the NFC South | +1000 |
| Over/Under win total TBD | 5.5 |
Baker Mayfield Trade – SBG Odds Overview – All About Nothing?
Last year the Panthers created excitement by acquiring quarterback Sam Darnold from the New York Jets. But Darold did not have a good season. Part of that was because of injury issues. And then there was the loss of top running back Christian McCaffery to injury. But Darnold did not show any hint of becoming a sportsbook asset. Thus, the need for Mayfield.
Now the question is, just how valuable is Mayfield? The 2020 playoff season was a demonstration of his potential. But the 2021 campaign was indicative of his inconsistency. Mayfield was victimized by being hung out to dry by one of the worst organizations in professional sports. But he did himself no favors based on his demeanor.
Carolina’s biggest problem in the past two years has been the absence of McCaffery. And that leads to questions about how effective McCaffery will be once he returns. Also, there is the worry that McCaffery has already reached a stage in his career where he is prone to injuries.
NFL Browns Burn Insurance Policy
At the onset of Watson’s arrival was the belief that Mayfield would be kept as a viable backup. The big worry is Watson’s legal situation. He is facing pending civil suits regarding sexual misconduct.
In turn, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is concerned about the league’s image to advertisers, fans, and politicians. In the era of “me too,” the NFL does not want Watson on the field. Certainly not until the legal issues are resolved. Concurrently the NFL is reviewing his case. Why Cleveland sent a truckload of draft picks to Houston to obtain Watson borders on insanity. And then trading Mayfield blindly without knowing Watson’s status is utter recklessness.
A New Rhule
Third-year Carolina head coach Matt Rhule is facing a must win season with the NFL betting odds. Indeed, the new car smell is gone after consecutive losing seasons. Rhule will coach for his job with one of the most volatile quarterbacks in the game. At the beginning of his arrival, Rhule was the hot new coaching property in the NFL. Now he is on the hot seat. And he will have to find a way to tap into Mayfield’s Heisman Trophy talent and 2020 form to keep his job.