Lea: Mayfield, Darnold competition looks even... by design
Posted August 11, 2022 9:55 p.m. EDT
Updated August 12, 2022 9:33 a.m. EDT
Charlotte, N.C. — The largest eruption from the crowd at Bank of America Stadium for Fan Fest came for Christian McCaffrey. No shock there.
The second loudest eruption came for a player that has never played a home game inside the stadium before. Baker Mayfield.
Fan Fest continued the quarterback competition between Mayfield and Sam Darnold, a competition Matt Rhule said was even Wednesday after the Panthers' last practice at Wofford College. Whether it was by design or maybe true to Rhule's word, neither quarterback came out of Fan Fest looking like the top QB. It looked... even.
No 'starter' has been named for the Carolina Panthers ahead of Saturday's first preseason game against the Washington Commanders. Rhule says both quarterbacks will play one series apiece. Since it will be the first live reps against another team for both this season, Saturday's game could truly expose who will eventually become the starter for the Panthers going forward.
But no matter what happens Saturday, Baker Mayfield needs to be named the Panthers' starter for week one. He could stink it up Saturday against the Commanders, but it would be forgivable seeing as though Mayfield has only been practicing in Ben McAdoo's offensive system for less than three weeks.
Last season, Darnold had no competition heading into week one, but dazzled Panthers fans and the world with a revenge game win against his former team, the New York Jets. As fate would have it, the Panthers host the Cleveland Browns on week one this season, which is of course Mayfield's former team.
Nothing would juice the team and the fan base more than a Mayfield win against his former team, while starting for his new team. Plus, if we go by history, Mayfield's past performance would indicate he would give the Panthers the best chance at winning, holding a 29-30 record as an NFL starter to Darnold's 17-32 record. Plus Mayfield has one playoff appearance under his belt with a 1-1 record in the postseason. Darnold has never been close.
The next reason is scoring. Under Matt Rhule the last two seasons, the Panthers are last in the NFL in scoring in the third quarter. The second half as a whole isn't much better. Mayfield has thrown for 92 touchdowns in his four years in the NFL. Darnold, only 54.
Right now Rhule is clearly wanting to protect Darnold's psyche and keep him engaged as the regular season approaches. That approach may not be doing anyone any favors, however, because deep down we all know that Mayfield will be the Panthers starter because he's the better quarterback and gives Carolina the best chance at winning.
If not, why trade for him?
