Baker Mayfield Will Have To Earn Starting Job With The Panthers

There might be a quarterback controversy coming forth to the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers have acquired Baker Mayfield for a 2024 conditional fifth-round draft pick – but general manager Scott Fitterer assured that he won’t be guaranteed the starting gig.

He will have to compete with Sam Darnold, who will make about $18.86 million in 2022 on his fifth-year option.

The Panthers will only be paying $4.85 million of Mayfield’s salary.

“The reason why we added Baker was to make the group better as a whole,” Fitterer said.

“Sam is very much a part of this competition. I think they’re both gonna rise and play their best football they have.”

The trade to the Panthers came after Mayfield became disgruntled with the Cleveland Browns after he was involved with trade rumors all off-season.

It even worsened when the Browns reportedly told Mayfield that they would not accommodate his trade request.

Then the Browns were able to strike a deal in June for controversial Deshaun Watson, who allegedly had around two dozen civil suits that accused him of sexual assault and misconduct.

Mayfield and Darnold went within the top three picks of the 2018 NFL draft.

Going first overall was Mayfield followed by Darnold at the third spot by the New York Jets.

While both have had their moments in the NFL – there’s been a fair share of struggles ­­– especially with Darnold.

Over Darnold’s 50-game NFL career, he has 54 touchdowns to 52 interceptions with his completion percentage (Cmp%) below 60%.

Mayfield, on the other hand, has thrown 96 touchdown passes to 56 interceptions, with a Cmp% of 61.6%

Both Mayfield’s and Darnold’s teams missed the playoffs last year.

And now, the two will compete against each other for a starting job.

The first preseason game for the Panthers will kick off on August 13.