Paying for ebay item indirectly using paypal?

[Bob]

Hi, I would like to know if I would be fully buyer protected if I agree a price with a seller on ebay but then pay for the item directly with paypal outside of ebay with "make a payment" option on the paypal website.

For example, normally when I purchase an item through ebay and win an auction it will show "pay now" within ebay. But this time the listing is still active but the seller has agreed a price with me and told me to pay directly with paypal. Am I being scammed?

Thank you for the help.