3 reasons Baker Mayfield could be the Carolina Panthers’ consolation prize

Carolina Panthers can continue to build through the draft

Baker Mayfield may not be as great of a quarterback as Deshaun Watson. But as we have seen in recent seasons it isn’t always the best player who wins.

Spending big for Watson would rob the Carolina Panthers of talent and at least three important draft picks. The price for Mayfield will be much lower when one considers the season he just had and the fact he isn’t under team control.

Mayfield is headed into the last year of his deal with an $18.85 million dollar cap hit. All things considered, this is a bargain deal for a signal-caller who has proven he can lead a team to the playoffs.

How many picks would Carolina have to give up to get Mayfield?

There is an argument that not only would the Panthers not have to part ways with as much as they would with Watson – it may not even be a high-end selection considering how the Cleveland Browns have made their intentions clear with their own pursuit of the former Clemson standout.

Carolina still has a lot of positions to address and their early draft picks are important to continue to re-establish a winning culture. Although they have just one in the top-100 right now after trades for Sam Darnold and C.J. Henderson.

Mayfield allows the Panthers to do just that without having to mortgage a roster that needs to be bringing in assets, not spending them.