In what has been a wild NFL offseason full of surprises, it feels like the tunes are about to stop in this game with quarterback musical chairs. As Jameis Winston is on his way back to the New Orleans Saints and Matt Ryan is being traded to the Indianapolis Colts, everyone is turning a blind eye to the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers.
Jimmy Garoppolo and Baker Mayfield are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the deal, but the former overall No. 1 pick will reportedly not be on his way to NFC South. While rumors are swirling, the Panthers are not interested in dealing with Mayfield, according to ESPN’s David Newton.
The Cleveland Brown quarterback has already been through a dramatic offseason. He is currently recovering from surgery on his left shoulder and so his team participated in Deshaun Watson’s competitions. Mayfield then requested a deal, which was initially rejected but should now be fulfilled after Cleveland landed Watson in a shocking event. Mayfield reportedly preferred the Colts as their new team, but they chose to take Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons, who also wanted Watson.
The most likely team to land Mayfield is the Seahawks, but a deal that is going to be realized is not certain. It’s curious about how bad Seattle would have Mayfield, and also what the Browns would accept from the Seahawks as compensation. Cleveland reportedly wanted a first-round pick for Mayfield, according to SI’s Albert Breer, but that probably won’t happen.
As for the Panthers, they are seen as a potential landing site for Garoppolo – but it is just as likely that Matt Rhule and Co. using their No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on a quarterback. Both Garoppolo and Mayfield have to feel a little anxious at this point, and both the Browns and San Francisco 49ers are likely to have to adjust their expectations for trade compensation.