NFL Rumors: Panthers' Quarterback Competition Has Already Been Decided

One of the NFL's closest quarterback competitions appears to be decided with two preseason games left on the schedule. The Carolina Panthers are expected to start Baker Mayfield over Sam Darnold when the 2022 regular season begins.

Mayfield should be officially named Carolina's starting quarterback when the team is ready to make an announcement, The Athletic's Jeff Howe reports. Panthers head coach Matt Rhule has insisted that both signal-callers have a chance to win the starting gig.

When the Panthers traded for Mayfield in early July, it became clear that the former No. 1 overall draft pick would likely be named Carolina's Week 1 starter. Mayfield has been a much better player than Darnold since they both entered the NFL in 2018.

Neither quarterback was overly impressive in the Panthers' first preseason game. Mayfield got the start and completed four of his seven pass attempts for 45 yards. Darnold only threw for 16 yards on three attempts, one of which resulted in a touchdown.

"We'll go back and look at this tape," Rhule told reporters after Carolina beat the Washington Commanders 23-21. "Obviously, Sam got us in the end zone. Baker led us down the field. Looked like both guys played well in terms of production. We'll go back and see where they are. That was just for today."

After committing five years and $230 million guaranteed to Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns sent Mayfield to the Panthers in exchange for a conditional fifth-round draft pick. According to Sports Illustrated, the Browns will pay $10.5 million of Mayfield's salary this season, while the Panthers will pick up the remaining $5 million of the tab.

Mayfield played poorly in 2021 as he battled a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. When Mayfield was healthy in 2020, he threw 26 touchdown passes and eight interceptions en route to the divisional playoffs.

Darnold had nine touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in 12 games for the Panthers last season. The former No. 3 overall pick has been a below-average starter in all four of his NFL seasons, never finishing with a passer rating north of 84.3.

Darnold has a career 76.9 passer rating and averages 212.5 passing yards per game. Mayfield is averaging 235.4 yards with an 87.8 rating for his career.

The Panthers visit the New England Patriots on Friday in their second preseason game of the year. Carolina concludes the preseason against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 26. Coincidentally, the Panthers open the regular season against the Browns on Sept. 11.

Darnold could still be named the Panthers' starter if Mayfield suffers an injury in the preseason. Mayfield didn't miss any games due to injury in the first three seasons of his NFL career, while Darnold has never made more than 13 starts in a season.