Ben McAdoo thinks Panthers QB competition will end well ‘as long as we don’t resort to cannibalism’

For another season, the Panthers face uncertainties at quarterback position. Still, offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo believes there’s reason to be excited about what the team has at the position in 2022.

McAdoo came to Panthers training camp with an open mind about quarterback competition. He was excited to see Sam Darnold and newly acquired Baker Mayfield compete.

So far, he’s been impressed with the effort everyone puts in to claim their starting job.

“These guys are fighting out there. They’re competing out there,” McAdoo said of Carolina’s quarterbacks at a news conference Tuesday.

We want to give everyone the opportunity to go out and get their best football on tape and we let it play itself.

MORE: Where QB fight between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold currently stands

McAdoo declined to comment on whether Darnold or Mayfield had emerged as the leader in the team’s quarterback fight, joking that he “left his crystal ball in his other pants.”

However, he has expressed optimism about the position as a whole, explaining that he believes the competition will help Darnold and Mayfield – provided they stay friendly.

As long as we don’t resort to cannibalism, I think we have a pretty good chance of getting out of here. They’ll both be better players when we come out of camp and play really good football. We just let it be. I think the worst thing you can do is rush into a decision. Just be patient.

Well, that’s one way of putting it.

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Cannibalism references aside, McAdoo believes both Darnold and Mayfield work well together. In fact, he was impressed with the way everyone handled the competition and didn’t let that stop them from building chemistry in the quarterback room.

“Up until that point, when you walked into the room, you didn’t know if it was going to be a cold, dark room or what kind of room,” explained McAdoo. “But it certainly isn’t. It’s a space where these guys are open, have conversations and help each other. They encourage each other. It was really good to see. They were professionals.

McAdoo has had more time to work with the likes of Darnold, Matt Corral and PJ Walker so far because Mayfield didn’t join the Panthers until his July 6 trade. Still, he believes the 27-year-old quarterback has been “pretty impressive” since joining the Panthers in training camp.

MORE: Panthers hope Mayfield trade saves self-imposed QB purgatory

And more than anything, McAdoo was impressed by Mayfield’s natural leadership.

One of his strengths is command. He can lead a space, he can command a space, he can command an offensive. He has a good presence about him. And, you know, he’s got a fire in his gut.

It remains to be seen if Mayfield’s prowess in this area will persuade McAdoo to put him in charge of Carolina’s offense. Anyhow, it seems that whatever negative views McAdoo held about Mayfield are now spilled even further in the rearview mirror.