Rob Maaddi, FISM News
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The Carolina Panthers traded more assets to acquire Sam Darnold last year than it took for them to get Baker Mayfield on Wednesday.
Only one of the two quarterbacks can start. Mayfield is expected to get that job even though the team is calling it an open competition heading into training camp later this month.
Mayfield, the top pick in the 2018 NFL draft, was 29-30 in four seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He led them to a playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers following the 2020 season but the team struggled last year, going 8-9.
Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in the same draft, was 13-25 in three seasons with the New York Jets. He went 4-7 last year in Carolina after a strong start in September, when the Panthers won their first three games.
The Panthers gave the Jets a sixth-round pick in 2021, plus second- and fourth-round picks in 2022 to get Darnold. They only had to give Cleveland a conditional pick in 2024, fourth or fifth round, to get Mayfield.
Even though Mayfield is more accomplished, his price tag was significantly less because the Browns acquired Deshaun Watson and it was known to teams around the league they weren’t going to keep two high-priced QBs on their roster.
Mayfield took a $3.5 million pay cut to facilitate the trade. The Browns will pay him $10.5 million in 2022 and the Panthers will pay him $4.8 million. Darnold will earn $18.8 million this season. Both quarterbacks will be free agents after the season.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule already named Darnold the starting quarterback before the team made a deal for Mayfield. The Panthers also selected Matt Corral from Mississippi in the third round, but he’ll likely be a third-string QB as a rookie.
Mayfield enters the “competition” with an advantage. He’s had more success and better numbers throughout his career. Mayfield has thrown for 14,125 yards with 92 touchdowns, 56 interceptions and an 87.8 passer rating.
Darnold has passed for 10,624 yards with 54 touchdowns, 52 interceptions and a 76.9 passer rating.
However, Mayfield has a critic on the coaching staff. New Panthers offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo questioned his talent coming out of college in an interview with the New York Post in 2018.
“I didn’t see a lot of pro-style football in his college tape,” said McAdoo, who was out of football at the time. “And if you’re short you have to be able to make up for it some way, somehow, and personality doesn’t do that. I didn’t think he was a great athlete. This guy is kind of like a pocket quarterback that is short and with small hands, that’s what I worry about.”
Also, Panthers wide receiver Robbie Anderson didn’t seem eager to welcome Mayfield earlier this year. He responded “Nooooo” on social media to a report that said the Panthers were interested in Mayfield months ago.
Now Anderson has clarified his comments, saying he meant to be supportive of his teammate Darnold.
After the trade, Anderson tweeted: “I don’t have an issue with Baker stop tryna paint that narrative.”
The Panthers haven’t reached the playoffs since 2017 and hasn’t had stability at quarterback since 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton was let go. Teddy Bridgewater went 4-11 in 15 starts in 2020 before being dealt to the Denver Broncos after just one season.
Darnold struggled behind a poor offensive line last season and the team re-signed Newton, who lost all five of his starts. Newton remains unsigned.
Carolina had interest in Watson but the Browns lured him to Ohio with a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
If, as expected, Mayfield wins the starting job, his first game would be against his former team. The Panthers open the season at home against the Browns on Sept. 11.