The Carolina Panthers did not have to give up much to trade for quarterback Baker Mayfield.
In return, the Cleveland Browns will receive a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft that will become a fourth-rounder if Mayfield plays 70 percent of the snaps.
It’s easy to circumvent that condition, especially if the Panthers’ season will be over quickly.
Likewise, the Browns will also pay $10 million of Mayfield’s salary for 2022.
That’s an ironic detail especially if the Panthers win over the Browns in Week 1.
However, the Panthers will shoulder the rest of the money but Mayfield will only get $5 million guaranteed.
He can earn another $3.5 million through incentives as ESPN’s Field Yates revealed.
Baker Mayfield has a chance to earn back the $3.5M in salary he gave up as part of the trade to Carolina through a variety of incentives. They breakdown as follows: pic.twitter.com/EBDuSYKO7h
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 19, 2022
Yates tweeted, “Baker Mayfield has a chance to earn back the $3.5M in salary he gave up as part of the trade to Carolina through a variety of incentives.”
He also included the breakdown wherein Mayfield earns an additional $250,000 if he plays 75 percent of the snaps and the Panthers win at least ten games.
A Divisional Round win while playing 50 percent of the snaps will get him $500,000.
Winning in the NFC Championship Game with the same amount of snaps earns him $600,000.
Finally, a Super Bowl win while playing half of the snaps will give him $750,000.
Other Incentives For Mayfield
The Panthers will also give Mayfield $300,000 if he plays 75 percent of the snaps and the team is a top-five offense in the NFC.
He gets the same amount if Carolina is in the top ten in total offense throughout the league.
Mayfield can also earn the same value if the Panthers are in the top ten in points scored.
In terms of completion percentages for at least 224 attempts, he earns an additional $300,000 if he is top five in the NFC or top ten in the league.
Finally, a Pro Bowl inclusion nets him $500,000.
These incentives should motivate Mayfield to deliver good fortune to his new squad.
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