Panthers release Mayfield

The Carolina Panthers released quarterback Baker Mayfield on Monday.

Interim head coach Steve Wilks told reporters that due to the passer's professionalism, the team honored Mayfield's request for a release, according to Steve Reed of The Associated Press. Wilks said the request came after the coach informed the team that Mayfield would drop to third on the depth chart.

Mayfield will be subject to waivers once the transaction is finalized. Any team that claims him would be responsible for the remaining $1.35 million guaranteed on his contract, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Several teams are looking into claiming the quarterback, sources told Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.

The 27-year-old has endured a bumpy ride in his first and only season in Carolina. Mayfield opened the year as the team's starting quarterback before an ankle injury sidelined him after five games. He returned as the backup to P.J. Walker once healthy before making his final start in a Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Panthers gave Sam Darnold the starting nod in Week 12, a victory over the Denver Broncos. Darnold had missed most of the campaign due to an ankle injury suffered prior to the start of the 2022 season.

Mayfield struggled to maintain his grasp on the starting job with the Panthers. The Oklahoma product appeared in seven games for the club with six starts, compiling a 1-5 record while completing a career-low 57.8% of his passes for six touchdowns and six interceptions. His 74.4 passer rating also stands as a personal worst over his five-year career.

He was looking for a fresh start in Carolina after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Cleveland Browns. The former first overall pick spent the first four years of his career in Cleveland but was shipped out after the team landed Deshaun Watson.

Mayfield has been unable to build on his impressive 2020 showing in Cleveland. The signal-caller led the Browns to their first playoff appearance since the 2002 campaign after racking up 11 wins and 26 touchdowns to eight picks. He posted a 6-8 record as a starter in his final year with the organization.

The transaction is the latest shakeup the Panthers have facilitated during their disappointing 4-8 campaign. The franchise fired former head coach Matt Rhule earlier this year and also shipped out star running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers in a midseason trade.