Baker Mayfield explains decision to take $3.5 million pay cut to fast-track trade to Panthers

It’s not often that a former first-round quarterback takes a pay cut on their guaranteed contract to move to another team – Baker Mayfield knows that. However, his situation with the Cleveland Browns and Deshaun Watson drove him to seek that necessary solution to find a new home and a new opportunity to extend his career as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

At his introductory press conference with the Carolina Panthers, the former Heisman Trophy winner shared how he and his agents arrived at the $3.5 million pay cut that resulted in his trade from the Browns to Carolina.

“For me, the process was definitely interesting,” Mayfield said. “I don’t think there was any manual for it. You’ve seen guys give up money and part ways but it’s not very often that it’s a guaranteed contract that it happens with. For me, it was about the next steps forward and finding a new place. Somewhere that wanted me, somewhere that I would be able to go in and compete and have a fresh start, so that’s where that all came from.”

Mayfield went on to admit that the starting figure for the amount he is giving up was not the final $3.5 million, but he is focused on his own improvement, not the numbers.

“Not a very easy past couple of months in terms of negotiating and trying to come down to that number. It wasn’t the original number but I let the people that handle that stuff for a living take care of that and I was working on becoming more healthy, working out and grinding, doing the things that I can control.”

Progressive to end ‘At home with Baker Mayfield’ commercials

The drama between Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns is finally over, with the quarterback heading to the Carolina Panthers. While there may be some things he’s excited to leave behind in Cleveland, there’s at least one thing Mayfield wanted to continue as he moved to Carolina — his Progressive commercials.

Mayfield confirmed the “at home with Baker Mayfield” ads with the insurance company were are longer going to happen, despite his best effort. The idea of doing a commercial surrounding his move from Cleveland to Carolina won’t come out.

Mayfield and Progressive teamed up to make a series of commercials, joking about how FirstEnergy Stadium was his actual home. Plenty of other people starred, including his wife, Emily Wilkinson, and starting offensive lineman Jedrick Wills. Progressive also showed Mayfield doing regular household chores, with some of the best involving the quarterback doing the dishes and mowing the lawn.

Other companies, such as Hulu, have seen Mayfield act to promote their company. The Nissan Heisman House brings back the former Oklahoma Heisman winner as well, being one of the livelier characters in their reoccurring advertisements.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report.