During the 2022 NFL offseason, the Carolina Panthers spent most of their time trying to replace Sam Darnold.
First, they went after Deshaun Watson, which they lost out on to the Cleveland Browns.
However, the Panthers then went after Baker Mayfield, the disgruntled Browns QB.
After months of trade talks, the deal is finally done, and Mayfield is coming to Carolina.
But there is only one reason the team even went after the Browns QB.
Mayfield Is Seen As The Quarterback That Can Save Matt Rhule’s Job
Matt Rhule is the only NFL coach starting the season already on the hot seat.
The news we have been waiting for. With Matt Rhule on the hot seat you think he was going to go into the season with Sam Darnold? Baker is a clear upgrade at the most important position https://t.co/7LYoLNymh7
— Sports Talk Lou (@Pantherfan402) July 6, 2022
However, he’s been on that hot seat since last season.
But he’s given another chance with their newest quarterback addition to the team.
While that chance might not last long for him if Mayfield fails, it at least buys him some time.
It’s time they are also buying for rookie quarterback Matt Corral.
With him most likely going into the 2022 season as the third-string QB, he has time to develop.
However, if both Darnold and Mayfield prove to be flops in 2022, Rhule might throw in Corral as a last-ditch effort to save his job.
If he did this, it could destroy the development of their rookie quarterback just to keep his job in Carolina.
But even with this possibility, there were other concerns with the Mayfield trade.
Reporters Questioned Robbie Anderson Over Previous Comments
While getting their new quarterback is thought to be a saving grace for the team’s head coach, reporters’ focus was elsewhere.
They wasted no time asking wide receiver Robbie Anderson about his previous tweet about Mayfield.
I don’t have an issue with Baker stop tryna paint that narrative. pic.twitter.com/52GhVHget4
— Robbie Anderson (@chosen1ra) July 6, 2022
He was quick to check the reporter asking him this question and gave an answer that any teammate would love to hear.
His reason for making his previous comments was because he was trying to be a good teammate to his quarterback.
Every player wants players around them that have their back.
Anderson has shown this and let everyone know this.
He also lets people know he doesn’t have an issue with Baker, which is great for Carolina now that they have him.
However, even with Anderson being cool with his new QB, can the Panthers find success with this quarterback?
While Mayfield Is Seen As A Help To Rhule’s Job, He Might Be His Doom
The reality of the Mayfield trade is they didn’t get a better quarterback.
In fact, he’s not much better than Darnold.
When you examine his stats, and the roster that both quarterbacks had, you can see they are the same.
Had Darnold been on the Browns team with their star players, he could have done the same things as Mayfield.
So the former Browns quarterback benefited from having a great team around him in Cleveland.
He doesn’t have a stellar defense and multiple weapons on offense like he had in Cleveland with the Panthers.
Without that in Carolina, he’ll be the doom of Rhule’s career with Carolina.
That will make this trade one that he, and the Panthers, will soon regret.
NEXT: Panthers Analyst Ends Talk Of A QB Competition
