Baker Mayfield has to prove he's better than Sam Darnold to start for Carolina Panthers - Carolina Panthers Blog- ESPN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After months of on-again, off-again negotiations, quarterback Baker Mayfield is now a member of the Carolina Panthers after they sent the Cleveland Browns a 2024 conditional draft pick for him in Wednesday's trade.

But does adding Mayfield make the Panthers a playoff team in 2022?

If they get the 2020 version of Mayfield, maybe. He led the Browns to an 11-5 record and a playoff victory while throwing 26 touchdown passes to eight interceptions.

The 2021 version of Mayfield — who struggled to a 6-8 record with 17 touchdown passes to 13 interceptions while dealing with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder — may not be any better than returning starter Sam Darnold.

The Panthers haven’t counted out Darnold. According to a league source, Mayfield hasn’t been handed over the keys to the offense. He’s just been given a duplicate set to compete with Darnold for the job.

The Panthers have been open about the possibility of adding a veteran quarterback to compete with Darnold since Deshaun Watson was traded to the Browns, which made Mayfield expendable.

They made a run at Mayfield during the draft, but, according to a league source, the Browns weren’t willing to pay more than $3.5 million of Mayfield’s $18.858 million 2022 salary in exchange for a sixth-round pick.

That changed on Wednesday. The Panthers gave up a conditional fifth-round pick in 2024 that could turn into a fourth-rounder based on playing time and will pay only $4.85 million plus incentives of Mayfield’s salary. The Browns will pay $10.5 million.

That’s a team-friendly deal for the Panthers, who, with the $18.858 million guaranteed to Darnold this season, have only $23.7 million committed to the first (Mayfield) and third (Darnold) picks of the