It didn’t take long before quarterback Baker Mayfield took over the Carolina Panthers.
Just last month, he was traded by the Cleveland Browns to the Panthers in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
That selection will become a fourth-rounder if Mayfield will play 70 percent of the snaps this season.
It seems like the Oklahoma alumnus is on his way to fulfilling that condition after he was named the Panthers’ starter for Week 1 of the 2022 season.
Ironically, he will be going up against the Browns, a team that won’t have Deshaun Watson for 11 games and still pays Mayfield $10 million this year.
How crazy would it be if Mayfield defeated a team that gives him most of his money?
But since he joined the Panthers, it was as if the starting role was his to lose.
The #Panthers QB competition wasn't close between Baker Mayfield and Sam Daronld.
"My understanding is Baker ran away with the job", according to @AlbertBreer
Baker was on the team for two months. Darnold was on the team for two years. pic.twitter.com/X4NKsPcN1h
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 23, 2022
NFL insider Dov Kleiman tweeted, “The #Panthers QB competition wasn’t close between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. ‘My understanding is Baker ran away with the job’, according to @AlbertBreer. Baker was on the team for two months. Darnold was on the team for two years.”
Obvious From The Beginning
It was difficult to see Mayfield losing to Darnold the moment he joined the Panthers.
Otherwise, the team wouldn’t have traded for him if they didn’t badly need him.
Last season, they have given Darnold the opportunity to prove himself.
Unfortunately, he faltered, especially when Christian McCaffrey went out.
The Panthers were also not convinced that Matt Corral, their third-round pick in this year’s draft, was ready to be the starter.
With head coach Matt Rhule and general manager Scott Fitterer possibly on the hot seat, they will be going with the guy that gives them the best winning odds.
To say the least, Mayfield is that guy and it’s not even close.
NEXT: NFL Analyst Shares A Prominent Baker Mayfield Comparison