The Panthers have decided on their starting quarterback for the new NFL season, and his name is not Sam Darnold. The incumbent starter lost the starting QB berth to Baker Mayfield, who joined the Carolina Panthers from the Cleveland Browns about a month and a half ago.
Darnold took the Panthers’ decision well but his disappointment was visible. In a press conference following the announcement, he said that “it is what it is” and that he would do everything he can to support his teammate and get him ready for games.
Losing the No.1 QB Position ‘Sucks’
Darnold, who was picked third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Jets, has never had to fight for the starting quarterback position. That is not until he had to compete with the No.1 pick in that same draft.
When Darnold was asked if he felt relieved that at least the decision was made and he finally knew what his fate would be, he gave a negative answer.
“For me, personally, it sucks,”
Darnold said. He told reporters that it was tough going into camp and fighting for the starting position only to find out you haven’t been picked. So, for him, it made no sense to feel relief when a decision didn’t go his way.
However, the quarterback promised that he would continue to train hard, become better, and help Baker Mayfieldto go on the field and perform well.
Mayfield’s Task Is to Take Panthers to the Playoffs
The fact that Darnold lost the No.1 quarterback position indicates that the Panthers’ management didn’t feel he could perform to the standard they expected from him. The Carolina-based team traded three draft picks to get Darnold last offseason, but it is evident things didn’t go as they planned.
In his 11 starts and 12 appearances last season, Darnold notched 2,527 yards, 9 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. His completion rate was 59.9.
It is now four years in a row that the Carolina Panthers haven’t made it to the playoffs. Obviously, Darnold wasn’t the man to change things around.
It will now be Baker Mayfield’s job to improve the Panthers’ last season record of 5-12 and help his new team reach the postseason after a four-year hiatus.
