10:40am: The move is now official, as the Panthers confirmed that Mayfield is no longer with the team.
9:45am: After less than one season in Carolina, Baker Mayfield‘s time with the Panthers is set to come to an end. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that the team will place their former starting quarterback on waivers later today. ESPN’s David Newton tweets that the 27-year-old requested the move.
Mayfield was acquired in the summer in a move which concluded a drawn-out negotiating process between the Panthers and Browns. The former No. 1 overall pick requested a move out of Cleveland, one which became inevitable upon their acquisition of Deshaun Watson in March. Mayfield, as expected, won out a training camp competition between himself and fellow 2018 draftee Sam Darnold.
The former Heisman winner took on the No. 1 role for the first five games of the season, but failed to live up to expectations; the Panthers’ Week 5 loss proved to be the final game of former head coach Matt Rhule‘s tenure with the team. With Darnold and rookie Matt Corral sidelined to injuries, Mayfield had little in the way of competition for a first-team spot until he suffered a high ankle sprain of his own. That paved the way for former UDFA P.J. Walker to take over for five consecutive games.
Mayfield replaced Walker during the second half of the Panthers’ blowout loss to the Bengals in Week 9, but was not given another start until two games later against the Ravens. That contest, like much of the rest of the campaign, did not go according to plan as Mayfield has searched for a return to the form shown in his rookie season and interim head coach Steve Wilks has taken the remainder of the season to evaluate each available signal-caller on the roster.
With Darnold back to full health, Wilks made it clear that he would see action as the starter in the closing stages of the season. As expected, then, the failed Jets passer worked as a first-teamer in Carolina’s Week 12 win against the Broncos. He will do so again this week, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones noting that Walker will, to little surprise, serve as the backup (Twitter link). With Corral sidelined for the season, those two will see out the rest of the year for the 4-8 Panthers.
Darnold’s return spelled the end of the road for Mayfield in Carolina, but he will not be expensive for an acquiring team. Less than $1.5MM remains on his 2022 contract – the fifth-year option which made this a hugely important season for him as he approaches free agency. Given that figure, and the season-ending injury suffered by Jimmy Garoppolo yesterday, the 49ers represent an obvious candidate to put in a claim. San Francisco’s current QB depth chart consists of Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson, so Mayfield could at least compete with those two as the NFC West leaders look to make a deep playoff push despite their injuries at the position. If he goes unclaimed, Mayfield will become a free agent.
SF!
Jk bakers trash LOL
Arlington Renegades
San Fran might not be bad, though. I can’t really hold any of the Panthers’ QBs entirely responsible for how bad that offense is. Mayfield’s at his best when he is simply managing a strong ground game, without having to make too many decisions throwing the ball. San Fran, a team with a strong run game and with good YAC receivers, could work better for Mayfield than Carolina did.
he’s good for 2 picks and an injury
Niners would actually be a nice spot for him, but I wonder if he makes it that far. I can see no one claiming him, or I can see a few teams giving him a shot for these last few games too.
I’d be surprised if he’s claimed , but someone will def sign him after.
issue with 9ers is they have 2 arguably better QBs even with Jimmy and Lance out.
Mayfield has a 1-11 record in afternoon game starts so that probably doesn’t make the Niners a good fit.
Oh well, there’s always commercials!!
They should waive all their QBs.
I know he terrible but be funny if sf sign him
Agreed, waive em all. Bring in Gilbert and start him.
people joke but SF may sign him. he would be a backup to their third string guy now pressed into action. it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
He would be a major improvement. Obv probably just a good backup but SF needs that right now. Likely will have a job by EOW.
idk Purdy looked solid, and already have a decent backup in Josh Johnson..
all bias aside, I think I’d still rather have Johnson.
Panthers certainly think there’s a chance SF claims tho given the timing
Does he even make it past Houston? Wouldn’t be the worst idea for the Texans. Davis Mills certainly isn’t the answer, nor is Kyle Allen.
I could see Houston claiming him based on unique situation that it’s unlikely he’d sign there.
I don’t really see many other teams willing to place a claim tho.
as cheap as he may be, the pro-rated portion of league minimum for 4 games is still way less.
Pete Carroll, this off season, said “get Russell Wilson the heck out of here”, said “former #1 pick, Baker Mayfield for free? No thanks” “because Geno Smith, yeah, that’s right, Geno Smith is my guy” and he was right.
That’s wild.
Denver would kill for a QB of Geno Smith’s caliber right about now! They’d probably settle for a Baker since they don’t have a cook.
Every hack blogger, writer and whatever else they call themselves that thought this bust should have been peddled to the majority of the 31 teams should be made to hear their writings read to them by Yoko Ono.
Not read sung to them. Sheeeexxxd
Me thinks Hue Jackson is in Louisiana with a big smile on his face this morning…
Pretty hard for any QB to be Baby J on a team that sucks. Bakes will be in SF tomorrow.
hes def heading to the bay, inmagine he gets all the way to the super bowl
As always, we await developments.
Mayfield could not have ended up in a worse spot this year. I don’t think he has a future as anyone’s plan at QB, but anyone but McAdoo would know not to have a short QB throw a constant stream of slants right there defensive linemen can bat them down.
As cool as it is to utterly reject Mayfield’s possible positives, I tend to agree. We all know what Mayfield isn’t, and have a good idea what he is. But Carolina really didn’t give anybody a chance to succeed at any level on offense, and the Cleveland fiasco is it’s own special case. I am not labeling Mayfield as the answer for anyone, but I also doubt that we’ve seen his best the last two years as well.
Exactly. I have no illusion of him being a top fifteen guy at this point, but I think if his health and situation are both even decent, he’s definitely a top 30 guy. No one’s plan, but a decent bridge or top level backup.
top 30 what?
Cousins is a “top 30” guy but likely the most unpopular QB in Vikings history.
It was the worst possible fit for both parties even though I’m sure both sides saw the glass as half full at the time.
Baker is not this bad. He’s no savior but there are a number of teams he could help right now, if not as an immediate starter than perhaps down the road. And maybe this experience will make him better. Maybe.
The Panthers are a train wreck, They handled this entire season and QB situation as if they were using an ouija board for their decisions. Anyone wanting to dump on any of their players should consider the mess they’ve been dealt this year. They aren’t good, but they weren’t going to be good no matter what thanks to circumstance.
Colts couldn’t due any worse then Matt Ryan and the kid from Texas. Mine as well give Baker a shot.
@np1511 Might as well take an English class, at least in due time.
Is this purely performance or did he lose any respect he could have had in the locker room? I forgot what Carolina gave up for him, but the last two QBs they’ve traded for and nothing to show may hopefully be the lesson they need – stop moving high picks for questionable QBs.
While I agree with this: “stop moving high picks for questionable QBs,” the Panthers didn’t give up a high pick(s) in this case.
Texans
From a 1st overall pick some years back and going to another team I expected a fresh start and better results. Just goes to show you how scouts can really over rate a player
Baker must have asked for his release.
He did.
He did, but was smart enough this time to do it quietly. And I can’t blame him either.
But the browns were the problem he has not quit on the panthers……
He asked the Panthers for his release. That’s exactly “quiting” on his team. It doesn’t get any clearer than that
SubWay. Eat fresh
Purdy really only made 1 mistake yesterday when he missed Kroft who was wide open on the 4th & 1 completion to Kittle…other than that, he is basically a younger JGQ. SF catches a break with Tampa playing tonight and then having them fly across County for Sundays game. With that D, SF will be okay
This usually happens when the backup is forced into active game time. The coaches have too quickly dumb down the game plan and the defense is not prepared. There is zero film on QB Brock Purdy aka Mr. Irrelevant 2022, so he has another week to shine, if he can read the pressures.
I kind of hope that Baker goes to SF, there is instant chemistry with McCaffery, the team makes a run, and we get to see David Tepper have a complete meltdown.
But wait, I thought his shoulder was the issue in 2021? Are you telling me it could’ve also been his poor footwork, inability to find throwing windows, doesn’t work through a progression, locks onto 1st read, and inability to decipher disguised coverages post-snap? Shocking
A torn labrum is definitely a serious injury.
Rams need a QB!
The guy is done
Maybe I’m nuts but as sucky as Jimmy G is, I feel like he would be a huge upgrade at QB for the 49ers
That being said any team competing with the 49ers could sign him to block them from doing so
Hahahaha. Baker you sure are one special kind of player!!!
Where will you go next to be a pine boy ridin that bench?!
So if Baker the QB faker is picked up via waivers are the Browns on the hook for the remaining 2022 salary?
If he is picked up on waivers the claiming team would be on the hook. It’s not much though.
Seattle claims him – puts him on practice squad for 2 weeks then cuts him after they play SF
Hopefully you’re being sarcastic
why not? cost them about $500k and screws the 49’ers ( ok screws implies he is the key to winning it all which he is not but why take a chance)
Niners could claim him from Seattle by putting him on the active roster like they just did with Josh Johnson
good point – claim him – stash someone else on practice squad – then drop him after sf game lol
Let him back up the other overhyped Sooner
I’m just glad hes free to make commercials full time now.