Baker Mayfield may be focused on his fresh start with the Panthers, but he’s still “shocked” how his breakup with the Browns played out.

“I think that’s why it was surprising for everybody,” Mayfield said Tuesday during his introductory press conference with Carolina, just days after Cleveland dealt him to the Panthers for a conditional 2024 fifth-round pick.

“If I’m focused on the past I’m not doing my job being a Carolina Panther,” he continued. “I’m grateful for my time there. Shocked — I’d say is pretty much the only way to describe it. You roll with the punches and you gotta move forward. This is a test of adversity and how I’m going to handle it and how I’m going to move forward and be the best teammate possible with our new home and I’m looking forward to it.”

Mayfield’s relationship with the Browns began to deteriorate earlier this year when the club made a surprise play for his replacement in then-Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. The team acquired Watson in March, signing him to a five-year, $230 million contract, fully guaranteed.

Mayfield — who led the Browns to a playoff win in January 2021, the team’s first since the 1994 season — called the turn of events “pretty unexpected.”

Despite the drama, Mayfield said there is no animosity toward the Browns when looking back on his tenure in Cleveland.

“It’s a good football town that gave me the first four years of my career,” he said. “I’m thankful for those trials and tribulations, all the challenges, a lot to learn from and look back on and reflect. I’m really focused right now on being a Carolina Panther and I’m pumped up to do so.”

The Browns selected Mayfield with the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, with high expectations the quarterback would turn things around in Cleveland. But just as quickly as he became beloved by the city, Mayfield was the subject of harsh criticism this past season.

Mayfield played through multiple injuries and struggled on the field, tallying 16 turnovers and failing to lead Cleveland to a postseason berth. His play was also called out by Odell Beckham Jr.’s father in the lead up to the receiver’s eventual departure from the Browns.

Regardless of past turmoil, Cleveland will forever have a place in Mayfield’s heart.

“Cleveland’s a special place and there’s teammates and friendships and bonds — we all contributed to that special run and to help turn that around,” he said. “There’s guys, lifelong friendships that I’ll have that are very special to me, very near and dear to [my wife] Emily and I that we’ll never forget about. But I’m never a ‘me’ guy. I’m a team-first ‘win’ guy. We had a good time there and I’m looking forward to being able to contribute with Carolina now.”

The quarterback is now focused on learning the Panthers’ playbook to prepare for an “open competition” with Sam Darnold for the starting job in Carolina.

Mayfield said Week 1, when the Panthers play his former team, will “be a special one.”

“My job is to put our team in the best position to win and however I can help do that, that’s what I’m going to do.”