NFL Opinion: Panthers Must Choose Wisely, For Once

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Instead of drafting a quarterback high, the Carolina Panthers decided to trade for Baker Mayfield. How will it play out?

The Carolina Panthers, desperate to climb out of the division cellar, traded for Baker Mayfield. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold, their prized 2021 acquisition still cashes paychecks while playing in Charlotte. Now, the Panthers must decide which one of these passers will take the reins, in order to bring them back to the playoffs. From the outside, this looks like an untenable situation for the players, a no-win for coaches, and a turning point for the owner and fans. Franchise NFL quarterbacks don’t grow on trees.

Deep Pockets, Short Patience

With a worth north of fourteen billion dollars, David Tepper likes to invest. However, he also loves when the investment pays dividends. Sitting on more money than Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft combined, Tepper wants the jewelry the other two possess. Granted, money may not buy happiness, but it sure leases it for a long time. Tepper bought the Panthers for 2.3 billion. From that moment, the clock started ticking. Additionally, Tepper shelled out seventy million dollars for Rhule. Moreover, he spent draft capital on multiple quarterbacks. Suffice to say, Tepper wants to immediately win in Charlotte. As a hedge fund guy, he sees both immediate and long-time prospects. Then again, shelling out a couple of billion indicates a strong desire to win. Now, it appears like the Mayfield/Darnold competition will dictate how 2022 lays out for the Carolina Panthers.

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Inaccurate And Frustrating

Only Carolina barbecue drives up the fans’ collective blood pressure more than Sam Darnold. Initially, fans were optimistic that the Jets’ castoff would find a second wind in Carolina. Sadly, said wind did not smell of success. Instead, it resembled a humid cow pasture. In twelve games, Darnold failed to complete sixty percent of his passes. Furthermore, his 9:13 touchdown to interception ratio screams for benching. In his defense, the Panthers won their first three games. After that, the proverbial wheels fell off. Carolina lost the next five out of six. Older Panthers’ fans began to pine for Jimmy Clausen. During the slide, the offense sputtered and body language indicated the team wanted the season to end. Sam Darnold does not appear to inspire teammates, but rather a feeling of tired ambivalence.

Baker Checks In

Baker Mayfield, via trade. made the five-hundred-mile trip from Cleveland to Charlotte. In all honesty, Darnold pales in comparison. In Cleveland, Mayfield never threw for fewer than 3010 yards, His career rating of 87.8 sits slightly above average for an NFL quarterback. In addition, his 29-30 career record also bears that point. Mayfield shows good velocity and accuracy on every throw. Physically, there is nothing wrong with Baker Mayfield as a quarterback. Now, the intangibles are quite the opposite. His former teammates paint the portrait of an entitled player that wants to control the game but does not include his playmakers in conversation. If we keep it real, Robby Anderson voiced his displeasure when the Mayfield-to-Charlotte rumor started. Anderson may need to work on those seven drops and sub-fifty-percent catch percentage, instead of discussing quarterbacks. With that said, Mayfield needs to work to win over his teammates.

Line Insight

When the Panthers drafted Ikem Ekwonu in the first, they laid the foundation for a better offensive line. Ekwonu’s presence as a cornerstone player means the quarterback will have an upgrade at blindside protection. Equally important, is Ekwonu’s bookend, Taylor Moton. Moton took 1149 snaps last year and only surrendered one sack. As a result, the winner of the quarterback competition should enjoy the luxury of time in the pocket.

Rediscovering McCaffrey

Whoever wins the quarterback battle will have the blessing of Christian McCaffrey in the backfield. If he stays healthy, the Panthers can put defenses on skates. The key remains health. For all of his talent, taking only 443 snaps in the past two seasons does nothing to help the offensive punch of this team. Granted, injuries are a matter of chance and bad luck. The Panthers may want to lighten the workload and preserve McCaffrey. Somehow, some way, he must play an entire season.

Rhule-d Out?

Armed with a lofty contract, the Panthers retained Matt Rhule for another season. His quarterback will determine if you will see his house on Zillow in February. Touted as an offensive mind, Rhule’s offenses failed to climb above twentieth overall in total offense. During that same period, the Panthers won less than a third of their games. Usually, forty million dollars remaining on a contract would serve as a barrier when firing a coach. As mentioned, David Tepper can eat that contract. Under those consequences, Rhule needs his quarterback to bail him out and potentially save his job.

The Winner?

In all honesty, devoid of snark, Baker Mayfield should easily win the starting job. He displayed a better touch at all three levels of the field. Plus, the ability to improvise and buy time in the pocket will enhance this office. Is Mayfield the long-term answer? Probably not. Yet, the Carolina Panthers can shock teams with a competent offense to pair