By: Jake Rajala

The Carolina Panthers officially traded for quarterback Baker Mayfield today. Per NFL.com, the Panthers are delivering a fifth-round draft pick in 2024 to the Browns for the big-arm QB. Mayfield is finally out of his personal Alcatraz (also known as Cleveland), while the underrated Panthers squad acquired a QB that should earn the keys to the offense in Week 1.

With that said, Mayfield (assuming he’s the starting QB) will be in full John Wick-mode in the Panthers contest against the Browns in Week 1. The Browns battle against the Panthers will be an exciting, dramatic, and competitive show-down.

With that enunciated, I’m going to simply untwine three winners and three losers from the blockbuster Mayfield trade.

Winner: Matt Rhule

The Panthers head coach, Matt Rhule, is walking on fewer eggshells after they upgraded the QB position — which previously featured Sam Darnold as the projected starter. Rhule will not only have Christian McCaffrey healthy, but he will have a talented quarterback that can utilize the weapons on a high level if he’s in sync and healthy. Rhule has a record of 10-23, but he should feel a lot more comfortable about the chance of having his first winning record in 2022 with the former Browns QB.

Loser: Sam Darnold

Darnold may express that he’s a “good” quarterback on “Bussin’ with the Boys”, but his 2021 performance was actually dreadful. The former USC stud threw 9 touchdowns to 13 interceptions while ousting a 4-7 record. Plus, the Panthers have a young, potentially better QB to couple with Baker in Matt Corral. Darnold, who is a FA in 2023, will likely be traded soon or looking for a new home after the 2022 season.

Winner: Robbie Anderson

Robby Anderson may not prefer Baker Mayfield in secrecy, but it’s obvious that Mayfield can help the deep threat more than Darnold. Anderson was one of the most under-utilized deep threats in 2021, so it’s time for the Mayfield-Anderson connection to thrive moving forward. Anderson recorded 15 YPC in 2018 and 2019, but he had a career-low (to say the least) 9.8 YPC in 2022.

Loser: New Orleans Saints

The Saints have a healthy QB-WR duo in Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas. Plus, they brought in the Honey Badger (who was All-Pro in 2020 and 2019). Although, they still have a brutal path in 2022 — seventh most challenging schedule. They may be really pushing for a wild-card spot next season, so it’s vital that they don’t cough up a loss against the Panthers.

Winner: Jacoby Brissett

Assuming Deshaun Watson missed at least a large chunk of 2022, Jacoby Brissett is guaranteed as the Browns temporary, starting QB. The 29-year-old QB has a golden opportunity to prove his worth with a Browns offense that features Nick Chubb, Amari Cooper, and Kareem Hunt. Perhaps Brissett can play well and earn an impressive contract with a team like the Jets in the 2023 off-season.

Loser: P.J. Walker

The Panthers 27-year-old quarterback, P.J. Walker, will have a brutal chance of making the Panthers roster with Mayfield onboard. The former XFL QB that threw a touchdown in a Panthers uniform last season will likely not be retained as a fourth-string QB. However, I trust that he will have another opportunity elsewhere at this stage in his career.

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The Carolina Panthers have a big question mark at the quarterback position in 2022. The slightly more anxious Matt Rhule and the Panthers just re-signed XFL standout P.J. Walker on Monday. It’s also been reported by the New York Post that Sam Darnold will be in a Panthers uniform next season. 

It seems that the Panthers want to give Darnold a year of growth and allow him to compete with a likely newcomer at the QB position. The question unequivocally is: what will happen at the Panthers QB position? Well, here are a few potential names that would make sense to land in CAR. 

1. Jameis Winston 

This number 1 option might be strange, but it would make a lot of sense. There’s so much buzz surrounding “Russell Wilson landing in NOLA”, but not enough traction revolving around Jameis Winston’s next landing spot. If Wilson takes his talents to the Big Easy, there is a 0% Winston remains in New Orleans. I’d love to see the Panthers sign Winston vs drafting a QB round one in the 2022 draft. The Panthers have a shorter window to pursue the Lombardi trophy off the legs of Christian McCaffrey. They also have the WRs to move the chains at ease. They can insert a mega arm, 27-year-old QB in Winston this offseason. 

It would be a poetic move for Winston to sign with his third NFC South team. At least Winston could grow with talent on offense and the talented, youthful defense (particularly on the front seven). 

2. Sam Howell

Again … I wouldn’t want to see the Panthers notch a QB in round one. They can find a similar value QB with Sam Howell in round two, not to mention that they still carry a QB project in Darnold. Howell would be a beautiful pickup by the Panthers. Howell may have more gasoline on his arm than Darnold and he even he is a few years younger than Darnold. He could utilize deep threat, Robby Anderson, quite well for Rhule. 

Howell had 24 passing touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 3,056 passing yards, and a 76.1 passer rating in 2021. It was below his 2020 season performance truly. Howell recorded 30 touchdowns in 2020 and ousted a 179.1 passer rating. Howell even registered 38 passing touchdowns as a freshman.

Howell really has the arm talent to put up big numbers with Anderson and Moore if he can master the playbook. If he can’t, he could sit and let the Panthers build the roster for a year then he could potentially take the reigns in a soon-to-be Brady-less NFC South. QBs like Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston could also be out of the division in 2022 or 2023, as well.

3. Cam Newton

This option might appear ludicrous for 75% of Panthers nation, but Cam does have a knack to come back from the dead. I also agree that there is less than 10% of Newton being prepped as the QB1 at the start of the training camp. Yet, Darnold routinely faces the injury bug. He’s missed four games in each of the past two seasons. If another injury occurs to Darnold in preseason action and they really need a veteran QB instead of a rookie, it would be ideal that Cam is inserted or gets a phone call. 

There isn’t a single soul that can clock the book on Newton’s work ethic. If he stays in shape and shows that he still has a grasp on the Panthers offense, he can really be a serviceable QB for the familiar offense.

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