Two of the most intriguing rookies in the NFL are facing off for the starting quarterback job in Carolina this season: Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. Both are in the final year of their rookie contracts. While their records are very different, Darnold went 4-7 last season in Carolina and Mayfield went 6-8 in Cleveland. Both are 29-30 in their NFL career, but the Carolina Panthers’ offense is in dire need of a starting quarterback.
Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are in the final year of their rookie contracts
Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are vying for the starting quarterback job in Carolina, but neither has a guaranteed spot. General manager Scott Fitterer confirmed the Panthers’ intentions to hold a quarterback competition, but he did not say whether he intends to trade or extend Mayfield’s deal. The decision will remain up to the team.
The two rookies have vastly different records. Sam Darnold is the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, while Mayfield was the third overall pick. Sam Darnold went 4-7 last season as the Panthers’ starter, tossing 13 interceptions while throwing only eight touchdowns. However, Mayfield’s record in the NFL is more impressive.
The team’s offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo was complimentary of both players in April, but head coach Matt Rhule has been very supportive of Sam Darnold, saying he wants to continue playing for the team. The Panthers could even draft Matt Corral to compete with Darnold in training camp, but this would only give Mayfield a chance to develop.
They are “cool” with each other
If you’ve been following the NFL, you’ve probably heard about Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. The two quarterbacks are “cool” with each other as rookies, but the question is, will Sam Darnold be able to keep the starting job? The Panthers recently traded for former quarterback Baker Mayfield, and are now going with the latter as the starting QB. Darnold finished last season with a 5-12 record and nine touchdowns. He had 13 interceptions, but still had a passer rating of 71.9. He had a completion percentage of 59.9%.
Both quarterbacks are “cool” with each other, and they both are aiming to start this fall. Although both quarterbacks have a high ceiling, they haven’t ruled out a competitive start in training camp. Sam Darnold told reporters that he and Mayfield view themselves as starters. But that doesn’t mean they have any trouble working together.
They have no bad blood
The Carolina Panthers have no intention of trading Sam Darnold, but they have a clear vision for the competition during training camp. They envision the two quarterbacks as equals and they haven’t closed the QB1 spot yet. Last season, Darnold started 11 games for the Panthers after being acquired from the Jets in an offseason trade. He threw 13 interceptions for nine touchdowns but missed a month with a shoulder injury. Carolina chose Darnold over Matt Corral in the third round, paying him $18.9 million guaranteed in 2018.
In Mayfield’s first season in Carolina, he struggled with injury and was unable to play up to expectations. Baker Mayfield, who is also a former Oklahoma standout, was the first quarterback selected in the 2018 NFL Draft. In college, he won the Heisman trophy and threw for more than 14,000 yards and 130 touchdowns. In a recent interview with the Oklahoma Football Twitter account, Baker Mayfield spoke candidly about his struggles with the Browns and his excitement for a fresh chapter with the Panthers.
They are “competitive”
The Carolina Panthers have declared the competition for the starting job between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold “competitive.” The trade between the two teams reunited the first-round pick and the third overall pick of the 2018 NFL draft. Baker Mayfield has more experience under his belt and will likely be the starting quarterback when the regular season begins. In the meantime, both quarterbacks are ready to compete for the job.
The Panthers have a tough matchup between two quarterbacks with similar records. Sam Darnold finished fourth in Carolina last season and was 17-32 as a starter. Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield finished 6-8 in Cleveland last season and is now 29-30. Although both quarterbacks have a similar record, they have a few differences. Mayfield finished his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns and is in his final year of his rookie contract.