Defense of the Super Bowl champions Los Angeles Rams asks quarterback Baker Mayfield to waive his rights a day after he was released by the Carolina Panthers; Mayfield had only been with the Panthers for five months before his departure.
Former No. 1 draft pick Baker Mayfield gets another chance to save his career, this time with the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams (3-9) lost their sixth game in a row on Sunday to the Seattle Seahawks, with John Woolford starting under center. Matthew Stafford, who had been diagnosed with a concussion and a neck injury a few weeks prior, was revealed after the game to have suffered a spinal bruise that likely ended his season.
The Rams had Woolford and Bryce Perkins as the other quarterbacks on their roster, though Woolford is dealing with a neck injury and was listed as not on Monday’s practice report.
Even though their chances of being late for a wild card seat are close to zero, the Rams claimed the 27-year-old Mayfield for the final stretch and inherited the $1.35 million left on his contract.
The Rams’ move also potentially prevented the NFC West’s quarterback-needing rival, division-leading San Francisco 49ers from claiming Mayfield because the Rams were ahead of the Photoniners in waiver order.
The 49ers lost quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo to injuries, although reports surfaced Tuesday that Garoppolo would not need foot surgery as originally expected and could return to the playoffs.
ESPN reported that the 49ers made no claim against Mayfield. Mayfield started six of the seven games he played this season, throwing 57.8% for 1,313 yards and six touchdowns against six interceptions.
He spent his first season with the Carolinas, who acquired him from the Cleveland Browns in July for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2024. The pick would remain in the fifth round as Mayfield missed 70 percent of the team’s snaps in QB.
The Panthers paid $5 million of Mayfield’s option for the fifth year, while the Browns paid about $10.5 million. Mayfield agreed to cut the remaining $3 million from his fifth year salary to ease the deal.
