Part 3/7:
Injuries plagued Mayfield's following seasons. He played with a partially torn labrum, and his performance began to deteriorate. The high expectations set by his promising start became overshadowed by inconsistencies, especially as the Browns sought other quarterback options. The emergence of Deshaun Watson as a target for the Browns marked the beginning of the end for Mayfield in Cleveland.
By July 2022, his time in Cleveland had come to a close, leading to a trade to the Carolina Panthers, where he hoped to revive his career. Unfortunately, the situation only worsened. Mayfield struggled to find his footing, recording a dismal completion rate of just 57.7%, and he requested his release after being demoted to third on the depth chart.