The Carolina Panthers will either have Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield as their starting quarterback for 2022.
However, the safe bet is on Mayfield because he has proven himself to be the better play-caller than his fellow 2018 draftee.
Likewise, Darnold is dead last among all quarterbacks who have thrown at least 1,500 passes since 2018.
Therefore, the former Oklahoma standout will likely take over from Darnold.
However, NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky is taking it a step further by saying that the Panthers will have success with Mayfield.
The @Panthers are a playoff team with the 2020 Baker Mayfield
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) July 6, 2022
Orlovsky tweeted, “The @Panthers are a playoff team with the 2020 Baker Mayfield.”
That year, the Browns made the playoffs with an 11-5 record and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Wild Card Round showdown.
However, they didn’t have enough against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round.
Mayfield had 3,563 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions in 2020.
He set the highest passer rating of his career that year and also tallied the most completions.
Is Orlovsky Sure About His Prediction?
Carolina’s success banks on the fact that Mayfield will rediscover his peak form.
However, it’s hard to see that happening given the team’s challenging schedule.
They will have to face the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice.
Then, they are set to meet AFC North teams such as the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Their schedule doesn’t get any easier because they will also face NFC West teams Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Rams.
Likewise, it isn’t certain that Christian McCaffrey will return to full strength.
They’ve also lost a huge part of their pass rush after Haason Reddick joined the Philadelphia Eagles.
Therefore, the odds are going against Orlovsky and the Panthers will likely have another losing season.
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