Competition Over In Carolina, Baker Mayfield Wins Starting Quarterback Job

By Jordan Long

The Carolina Panthers are preparing to take on the New England Patriots in preseason game #2.  Kick off is tommorow at 5 P.M. Mountain Time.  It looks like the Panthers’ biggest competition is now over.  Quarterback Baker Mayfield is expected to be announced as the starter for week 1 when they face the Cleveland Browns.

                The Panthers traded for Mayfield on July 7th, 2022.  All it took was a 5th-round pick that could turn into a 4th-round selection depending on how much Mayfield plays.  It was thought he would compete with Sam Darnold for the starting role. 

                Darnold had the edge since he served as the starter  last year for Carolina.  It didn’t go so well with a record of 4-7. In those games,  Darnold passed for 2,527 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Mayfield on the other hand was with Cleveland last season.  He went 6-8 passing for 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Both players had a chance to show the Panthers’ coaching staff what they could do in practice.

                The Panthers used training camp to determine who would be the starter for last week’s preseason game against Washington. The edge went to Mayfield.  Of course, practice isn’t a game since players aren’t going full speed nor hitting or tackling one another. 

                Against Washington, Mayfield started but it was only one series.  He was able to march the Panthers into scoring range for a 41-yard field goal.  In that drive, Mayfield completed 4 of 7 passes for 45 yards. 

                Darnold played the next Panther’s possession which started at the Washington 19 yard line after the Panthers recovered a fumble.  He went 2 of 3 passing for 16 yards and found Rashard Higgins for a touchdown pass. 

                Those numbers for both aren’t that great.   One series in live-action shouldn’t determine who should start in week 1.  It would have been better to go into this week and have Mayfield play a quarter and then Darnold do the same.  This would give the Panthers a better idea who should be the #1 quarterback on the depth chart. The Panthers coaching staff must be seeing Mayfield is outplaying Darnold in practice.  They are set to announce Mayfield as the starting quarterback for week 1.  Now, this doesn’t mean they will go with Mayfield the whole year.  It is possible if Mayfield struggles to win games or worst-case Mayfield suffers an injury Darnold will have a chance to play.  At least the Panthers have a backup quarterback who has started in the NFL.  Hopefully, for the Panthers, this is the right decision.

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