Baker Mayfield Aug 13, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) prepares to pass the ball against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

When the Cleveland Browns traded Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers last month, everyone within the Carolina organization insisted that there would be a legitimate quarterback competition between Mayfield and Sam Darnold. If that was indeed the case, it looks like Mayfield won the competition.

According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the Panthers are expected to name Mayfield their starting quarterback for the season-opening matchup with the Browns.

“Baker Mayfield is expected to be named the Panthers starting QB for Week 1, per sources,” Howe said in a Tweet. “He’s been competing with Sam Darnold but should be declared the starter when the team is ready to make the announcement.”

Earlier this offseason, Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said that the players would decide who would be this year’s starting quarterback with their performances during practice.

“To me, my job is not to pick the starting quarterback,” Rhule said. “The players will do that with the way they play. My job is to make sure that we have really good players in the room, which we do, and make sure that they have opportunities. So it’ll be a fun ride and when we know we’ll know.”

While the news didn’t come as a shock to most of the NFL world, the quarterback decision still got a few people talking.

Mayfield’s first start as a Panther will come against his former team, the Cleveland Browns. That game might have just become must-watch television.

[Jeff Howe]