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. He’s been competing with Sam Darnold but should be declared the starter when the team is ready to make the announcement. @TheAthletic
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) August 18, 2022
“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.”
SHOCKING BREAKING NEWS! I'M SO SHOCKED. INSANE! COULD ANYONE SEE THIS COMING!?! Good thing they let him get half the starter reps in. https://t.co/eRRYP8aRST
— Jason Moore (@jasonffl) August 18, 2022
Buy me my magazine Doug https://t.co/rb8ITsxh9R
— Parker Thune (@ParkerThune) August 18, 2022
I mean, there was never a quarterback competition in Carolina and Baker Mayfield was always getting the start Week 1 vs. the #Browns…but, here’s the report before the Panthers make it officially official, official. https://t.co/D4b0Zmao5k
— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) August 18, 2022
This means Sam Darnold goes in the transfer portal, right? https://t.co/VFZrbqJl7I
— James Kratch (@JamesKratch) August 18, 2022
Good for Baker https://t.co/epBkOlqavp
— Kegan Reneau (@KeganReneau) August 18, 2022
Glory days. https://t.co/TBUqBs4JJo
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) August 18, 2022
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.