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The Carolina Panthers made a big trade with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday as they land Baker Mayfield. This franchise receives a nice upgrade at quarterback, as it's hard to imagine Sam Darnold beating him out for the starting job. We'll see how it all plays out, but the franchise should be happy with this move. We look at three reasons Baker Mayfield makes the Panthers an immediate playoff contender.
It should be expected that Mayfield will start for Carolina. The Sam Darnold experiment didn't pan out, as Matt Rhule gave PJ Walker and Cam Newton some starting time throughout the previous season. For that reason, based on talent level alone, the Panthers have a new starting quarterback in Baker Mayfield. For that reason, the offense should improve.
Although he looked rough last season, the former Browns quarterback does have two solid years of production under his belt. A change of scenery might just be what he needed to get back to form. Additionally, many have been waiting for DJ Moore to have a competent quarterback under center. Mayfield has the ability to help Moore have that highly anticipated breakout season.
With that in mind, here are three reasons why Baker Mayfield makes the Panthers a playoff contender.
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How Baker Mayfield Increases Panthers 2022 Playoff Hopes
3. Baker Mayfield is substantially better than Sam Darnold
Quarterback play was a hot mess in Carolina last season and Mayfield should bring some stability to that position. He's completely outplayed Darnold throughout his career, even last season when Baker Mayfield was fighting through numerous injuries. The newly acquired talent gives the Panthers what they need to compete in the NFC South.
Additionally, there is a feeling that Carolina is a quarterback away from being a contender. The roster is stacked with great young talent on the defensive side of the ball, while the offense is led by Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore. The Panthers have the tools to be successful and Baker Mayfield could elevate this franchise into a playoff contender.
2. Has two good seasons under his belt
Recency bias has many believing that Mayfield is done for. His 2020 season was one to forget, especially considering Odell Beckham Jr.'s dad called him out midway through the year. Even so, the former Browns quarterback was dealing with a ton of injuries, and the fact Cleveland was in the playoff hunt, the coaching staff kept him on the field.
There is a real chance that Baker Mayfield comes back healthy and gets back to form in the upcoming season. If that's the case, then the Panthers might just be a more dangerous opponent than perceived. We'll have to see how it plays out, but trading for Mayfield could be a massive move for this front office.
1. Could unlock DJ Moore
DJ Moore has flashed throughout his career. He's done it enough times to the point everyone knows it is not a fluke. Moore is one of the best young receivers in the league but has struggled due to a lack of competency under center. With Baker Mayfield arriving in Carolina, the Panthers might finally have a quarterback good enough to feed Moore the ball.
If that happens, then we should see a big uptick in production out of the top wideout. He's ultra-athletic and has proven to be a consistent pass option for the Panthers. Look for Baker Mayfield to work alongside DJ Moore as soon as possible as building chemistry with one another is important. If Moore has the breakout year we've all been waiting for, then Carolina's offense will be much better compared to last season.
