Carolina Panthers QB Baker Mayfield gets his second chance
By Steve Rivera
The Carolina Panthers have a new starting quarterback for the 2022 NFL Season. Baker Mayfield will finally get his day in the sun.
The Carolina Panthers have a new starting quarterback for the 2022 NFL Season.
Baker Mayfield, the whipping boy of Cleveland Browns sports media finally gets his day in the sun. The one-time first overall pick now has a clean slate to work with, and it couldn’t come at a better time in his career.
The Panthers made a much-needed change at quarterback. For the relatively low price of a 2024 conditional fifth-round draft pick, Mayfield will compete against Sam Darnold for the starting position with the team.
While the Panthers are saying publicly that this is an open competition, they know they need Baker on the field in 2022.
The Carolina Panthers make a quarterback change
The Cleveland Browns selected Mayfield with the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Mayfield signed a four-year rookie contract with the Browns on July 24, 2018, with the deal worth $32.68 million in guaranteed salary.
Baker Mayfield was drafted by a team that had gone 1-34 in its last 35 games. And in his first three seasons with that team, he lead them to more wins than losses. Oh and he did it despite having four different head coaches.@Espngreeny has a message for the Baker detractors: pic.twitter.com/hK4AapTydf
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) August 19, 2021
Mayfield played in his first NFL game in Week 3 against the New York Jets, replacing an injured Tyrod Taylor. With Cleveland down 14–0, Mayfield would go for 17 completions on 23 attempts.
Baker would end up passing for 201 yards as the Browns came back and prevailed 21–17, ending a 19-game winless streak.
In 2020, Mayfield would help lead the Browns to a Wild Card playoff appearance. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mayfield went 21 of 34 for 263 yards and 3 touchdowns during the 48–37 win, leading the Browns to their first playoff victory since the 1994 season, and the Browns’ first playoff road victory since the 1969 season.
In the Divisional Round against the Kansas City Chiefs, Mayfield threw for 204 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Cleveland would end their season and postseason with a 22–17 loss.
Overall, Mayfield would finish the 2020 season with 4,030 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. A promising career seemed in waiting. Then the wheels would come off.
Baker Mayfield relaunches his career with the Carolina Panthers
After the Browns signed Deshaun Watson on July 6, 2022, Baker Mayfield would ask for a trade.
When all the NFL world pointed to signs Watson would be suspended this season, Cleveland arrogantly thought their soon-to-be former quarterback would stick around and help out his hometown team.
After a relatively cool trade market, and the Browns having unrealistic trade expectations, Mayfield would be sent to Carolina. For Baker, it’s a one-shot opportunity to prove he can compete and win in the league. A task he’s already proven, but will be asked to prove again.
Baker Mayfield has spent a college career and an NFL career needing to validate his skills as a quarterback. He gets another chance to do that with the Carolina Panthers. If he does, the sky can still be the limit.