The Panthers acquired Baker Mayfield earlier today, but that doesn’t mean the organization will be bailing on their other high-priced quarterback. ESPN’s David Newton tweets that the Panthers have no intention of moving Sam Darnold.
[RELATED: Panthers To Acquire QB Baker Mayfield From Browns]
From a financial standpoint, this news isn’t a huge surprise. After the Panthers acquired Darnold from the Jets last offseason, they committed to the QB’s fifth-year option, locking the player in to a fully guaranteed $18.85MM salary for the 2022 campaign. Considering the difficulties the Browns had finding a taker for Mayfield and his hefty fifth-year option, there’s little chance the Panthers would find a suitor who was willing to eat much (if any) of Darnold’s deal. In other words, it makes more sense for the Panthers to temporarily tolerate the cap hit vs. pawning him off (or paying to get off the contract).
Second, while teams would surely have interest in Darnold on their own terms, his salary and his ugly 2021 campaign likely means teams aren’t lining up for his services The QB seemed to take a step with the Jets in 2019 before taking a step back in 2020, and Darnold seemed to plateau on that underwhelming production in 2021. He finished the campaign having completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,527 yards, nine touchdowns, and 13 interceptions while guiding the Panthers to a 4-7 record in 11 starts.
Finally, the Panthers won’t trade Darnold because they sincerely intend on having a quarterback competition. We heard earlier today that the 2018 draftees would likely go head-to-head for the starting gig, allowing the team to also use 2022 as a developmental year for third-round rookie Matt Corral. Indeed, Newton passes along that the Panthers “haven’t counted Darnold out,” and the organization won’t automatically hand the keys to their offense to Mayfield. In fact, the organization is optimistic that the Mayfield acquisition could even light a fire under Darnold.
Ultimately, while the Panthers may be saying they have no intention of moving Darnold, it’s probably more accurate to say that they don’t have the ability to move Darnold considering the lack of suitors. So, for at least the time being, the organization is saying the right things and pointing toward a QB compeition.
In the scheme of things, it doesn’t matter very much, but if the Panthers were to rotate their QBs, that could be the difference between owing the Browns a 4th or a 5th, I believe.
Exactly. Both Carolina QB’s will be rotated this season, less injury. It’s a lost season for Carolina. How people can’t understand that is, well comical!
Even more of one for the browns with jacoby
I’m guessing PJ Walker is done in Carolina then. Any possibility of a trade?
Even if they did, who wants him? He’s trash
What team would intend to trade FOR Sam Darnold?
Just from a purely on field perspective, I’d take him over Geno Smith or Drew Lock, but I’m not Pete Carroll. The Seahawks I don’t think are trying to do anything other than rebuild right now as is.
If the Browns had a hard time getting rid of Mayfield making 18.9 million, how hard would the Panthers have trying to get rid of Darnold making 18.9 million
I’m still trying to figure out why anyone would have one, nonetheless both on the same roster. Apparently there’s only one team that would do such a thing – the Panthers.
I mean, would anyone want him?
Once the Watson suspension comes down and the Jacoby era is off to a rough start, Carolina can send Darnold to Cleveland for the conditional 4th round pick they gave up for Mayfield.
Haha. I think if you looked, Brissett probably has better stats than Darnold. I’m not so sure the Jacoby era will get off to a rough start. Carolina, Jets, Falcons and Steelers are the first 4 games. Just run the darn ball and play good defense and they should be 4-0