The Carolina Panthers’ quarterback dilemma didn’t become any clearer after the team traded for 2018’s first overall pick Baker Mayfield last week. According to the Panthers’ general manager Scott Fitterer, Mayfield isn’t guaranteed a starting gig, and the team anticipates him to compete for it with last year’s starter Sam Darnold.
“The reason why we added Baker was to make the group better as a whole,” said Fitterer.
According to Fitterer, the Panthers hope that competition will get the best out of both QBs.
“Sam is very much a part of this competition,” he added. “I think they’re both gonna rise and play their best football they have.”
Mayfield and Darnold were considered the best QB prospects in the 2018 class and were both in the conversation to go first overall. The Cleveland Browns, who owned the pick, went with Mayfield while Darnold landed with the New York Jets.
In his four years with the Browns, Mayfield completed 61.6 percent of his passes while throwing for 14,125 yards, 92 touchdowns, and 56 interceptions. He is 29-30 as a starter and coming off of a disappointing campaign that saw him post career-lows across the board and struggles with a shoulder injury. His shortcomings in 2021 prompted the Browns to trade for Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson and move on from the former Oklahoma star.
Darnold, on the other hand, had an even rougher journey in the NFL and is 17-32 as a starter. He completed 59.8% of his passes for 10,624 yards, 54 TDs, and 52 picks. The Jets moved on from him one year earlier than the Browns did with Mayfield, trading the USC product to Carolina ahead of the 2021 season. Despite starting the campaign with three wins, Darnold fell apart later in the season and was even benched at one point.
When the 2022 season kicks off, one of these young quarterbacks will have the opportunity to resurrect his career, while the other one will probably struggle to get a chance to start ever again. It remains to be seen which one is Mayfield and which one is Darnold.
