Baker Mayfield named Panthers starting QB: What that means for Carolina, Sam Darnold moving forward
Carolina’s worst kept secret was finally officially revealed on Monday:
The Panthers have named Baker Mayfield as the team’s starting quarterback, relegating former Jets acquisition Sam Darnold to a backup role as long as the team decides to keep him on the roster. It’s uncertain whether Carolina will attempt to keep Donald as QB2 or attempt to reassign him to another team.
It also remains to be seen if Donald wants to leave Carolina after failing to keep the starting role at preseason camp. These questions and more will be answered in the weeks leading up to the Panthers’ Week 1 game.
This game, of course, is at home against the Browns — who traded Mayfield (and $10 million in Cap Relief) to the Panthers. That will be one of the biggest storylines in Week 1 of the season, although there are more questions to be answered in the now decided QB battle.
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The Sporting News has everything you need to know about Mayfield’s win in the QB1 role and what it means for Darnold’s future:
Why did the Panthers pick Baker Mayfield for QB start?
Panthers coach Matt Rhule said the team based its quarterback fight on three factors that allowed Mayfield to part ways with Darnold.
“When we started this process, we looked at three things,” Rhule said in the team statement. “No. 1, mastery of attack, No. 2, situational football excellence and No. 3, moving the ball and involving the boys. That was our focus the whole time.
“Baker has improved a lot in all three areas in a short time, achieved a lot of growth.”
Rhule likely didn’t base his decision on the players’ preseason play performance. The only stats Mayfield or Darnold logged came in the Week 1 preseason game against the Commanders: Mayfield completed 4 of 7 passes for 45 yards but fumbled a snap from the middle in the 23-21 loss. Darnold was 2 of 3 passing for 16 yards and a touchdown.
Both led class drives in limited action.
However, Mayfield has had more success on the field with the Browns than Darnold has with the Jets or Panthers. Mayfield is 29-30 as a starter and completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 14,125 yards and 92 touchdowns for 56 interceptions.
Darnold’s stat line isn’t nearly as impressive: 17-32 record as a starter — including 4-7 at Carolina — a career completion percentage of 59.8, 10,624 passing yards and 54 touchdowns on 52 interceptions.
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What’s next for Sam Darnold?
That’s the big question for Scott Fitterer, Rhule and Panthers general manager. For now, it looks like he’ll be keeping Darnold on the team as the team’s primary backup.
“All along we felt like we need to have a really strong quarterback room and have every quarterback ready to play,” Rhule said of the Panthers. “The reality of this league is most teams will be playing multiple quarterbacks.
“Sam has worked incredibly hard, played really well for us during the training camp and will be ready when the need arises.”
This makes sense considering the trade market for Darnold is likely limited, if it exists at all. Only two teams are in desperate need of a quarterback: the Browns and the Seahawks.
Cleveland, who will be without Deshaun Watson for an 11-game suspension, likely wouldn’t trade for a player who couldn’t beat the player they traded to Carolina. (Additionally, reports suggest the team would trade for 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo over any other quarterback.)
Seattle’s quarterback fight between Drew Lock or Geno Smith isn’t particularly compelling, and it’s uncertain if Darnold could add much to that contest.
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Panther quarterback depth chart
Following the Panthers’ announcement, the quarterback depth chart will see Mayfield at the top, followed by Darnold and PJ Walker at backup and No. 3 spots. Third-round pick Matt Corral suffered a so-called Lisfranc injury late in the season and will be in 2022 are not in the active squad.
| player position) | Place on depth map |
|---|---|
| Baker Mayfield | 1 |
| Sam Darnold | 2 |
| PJ Walker | 3 |
| Matt Korral | injured reserve |
| Davis cheek | practice squad |
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