The NFL draft is not far away but seems to lack the excitement that has surrounded the event in past years. Some of that comes from covering/caring about the Cleveland Browns who don’t have a pick in the first round of the draft. The team also has non-draft-related drama with the acquisition of Deshaun Watson and needing to move on from Baker Mayfield.
While Robby Anderson may have no interest in acquiring Mayfield, the Carolina Panthers may end up with no choice given the limited options available.
Head coach Matt Rhule is going into his third season on the job after leaving the college ranks to come to the pros. While the defense has gotten better, Rhule is 10-23 in his first two seasons in the league. His seven-year contract seems to give him a long leash in the position but another year of not competing for a playoff spot, especially in the NFC where talent has fled from this offseason, could change the picture quickly.
While Scott Fitterer is the team’s general manager, Rhule has final say over the team’s roster.
Right now, Rhule would go into the season with Sam Darnold as his starting quarterback. Last year, Darnold was yanked out of the lineup being replaced by P.J. Walker and Cam Newton for six of the seventeen games. He completed under 60% of his passes while throwing nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
The Panthers have the sixth overall pick where they could improve at quarterback but the lack of a top-flight signal-caller is one of the reasons for the lack of buzz for this draft. Even if there was one, even the best rookie quarterbacks tend to struggle.
That could lead Carolina to the trade market for the second straight offseason. The team was all in on acquiring Watson but struck out. Jimmy Garoppolo could be an option but his contract and San Francisco’s reported trade demands could make that unlikely:
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— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) April 15, 2022
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Limited options on the roster, limited options in the draft and limited other options on the trade market means Mayfield makes the most sense for Carolina. Cleveland is likely to eat a good chunk of the quarterback’s salary and ask for a day three pick in return, or something comparable.
With Rhule potentially on the hot seat, Mayfield could give him the best chance to succeed in 2022. Otherwise, both the Panthers and Browns could find themselves in situations neither desires.
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