Sports media has turned on Baker Mayfield. After being traded from the Browns they are now pointing the finger at him.
This doesn’t make much sense to me. Mayfield made the Browns a better team – that was obvious. The guy is a gamer who played hurt. Did he make mistakes? Yes. However, I’d take a passionate player that makes mistakes over someone who doesn’t care any day.
During his first press conference since becoming a Panther, he said he was excited for the new start.
“I’m extremely excited for this new start in Charlotte,” Mayfield said during his introductory press conference on Tuesday. “Obviously, I think it’s kind of known now, some familiar faces there, some people that I know and a lot more to meet. It’s just an exciting time for myself and my family and just this new chapter. No animosity towards Cleveland. It’s a good football town that gave me the first four years of my career and thankful for those trials and tribulations, all the challenges, a lot to learn from and look back on and reflect. Just really focused on right now and being a Carolina Panther and pumped up to do so.”
Baker is not guaranteed to start due to the fact there is a QB competition between him and Sam Darnold. With that being said I’d be shocked if he didn’t start. Darnold played terribly last year and the reason the Panthers got Mayfield was to help boost this offense.
This offense does have some talent. They have Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore both of whom have proven to be elite at their positions. Mayfield might just be enough take this offense from terrible to a good one.
I believe Mayfield is going to have his best season yet. He has the skill and motivation to make it happen.