Baker Mayfield traded to Panthers: QB a house underdog in Week 1 matchup vs. Browns

Baker Mayfield has himself a brand new dwelling within the NFL after the Panthers struck a deal with the Browns on Wednesday that’ll ship the previous No. 1 general choose to Carolina. Cleveland receives a conditional fifth-round choose for Mayfield, whereas additionally consuming a piece of the quarterback’s wage for the 2022 season. It is all however sure that Mayfield would be the Panthers’ starter to start the yr and that is the place the true spice to this commerce is discovered. 

As destiny would have it, the Panthers will open up the common season internet hosting the Cleveland Browns at Financial institution of America Stadium in Week 1. So, Mayfield’s first official sport in a Panthers uniform is about to be towards the membership that determined to maneuver off of him this offseason. And he’ll be a house canine when he does it. 

In line with the chances at Caesars Sportsbook, the Browns re-opened as a -1 (-110) highway favourite towards the Panthers following this Mayfield commerce. Carolina can be +105 on the moneyline for this matchup. 

Given the revenge narrative, there could also be an honest quantity of motion on the Panthers to drag off the upset. Nonetheless, that wager does include threat at this level within the offseason because the standing of Deshaun Watson continues to be unclear. The Browns quarterback simply completed a listening to the place disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson will now go over arguments made by Watson’s illustration and the NFL and make a ruling on doable punishment for his off-the-field points that included as much as 24 sexual misconduct lawsuits being filed towards him. 

If Robinson goes with the NFL’s suggestion of an indefinite suspension of at the very least one yr, Watson is not going to be going toe-to-toe with Mayfield in Week 1 and Jacoby Brissett would probably get the nod as a substitute. That state of affairs would give Carolina a a lot better likelihood of pulling off this upset as the chances are at present constructed and it additionally would not be stunning to see the chances shift in Carolina’s favor as soon as the official phrase comes down. In the meantime, if Watson walks away with no punishment, that unfold will probably balloon to an even bigger quantity with the possibilities of an upset much less probably. 

Actually, it relies on what you suppose goes to occur with Watson. When you consider a suspension is for certain, there’s worth in taking Carolina ML whereas it is a plus cash. When you suppose Watson skates otherwise you place confidence in Brissett to maintain the ship afloat, laying a degree now at -110 could possibly be a route value exploring.

Regardless of which manner the Watson ruling comes down, nevertheless, it is a assure that Mayfield goes to be as motivated as ever to point out his former staff what they’re lacking out of the gate.