Why is wide receiver Robby Anderson voicing his displeasure about the Carolina Panthers potentially trading for quarterback Baker Mayfield?
There is a growing sense that the Carolina Panthers are going to make a play for Baker Mayfield despite the initial reports of there being “mutual disinterest” between both parties.
The quarterback is on the outside looking in after the Cleveland Browns landed Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans, which has plunged the former No. 1 overall selection’s future into real doubt with many teams already set at the most important position on the field.
The Panthers are not one of those fortunate teams that have a stable plan under center. Sam Darnold’s trade from the New York Jets came with no improvements from the player despite better weapons around him, which has led Carolina to search aggressively for a potential upgrade with little luck during the offseason so far.
Talk of Mayfield’s arrival sparked a heated reaction from Robby Anderson on social media over the weekend. The wide receiver made his opinions about the matter known for all to see and to say he’s against such a move would be understating things significantly.
Anderson is coming off the worst statistical season of his career after the Panthers gave him a lucrative contract extension after just one campaign with the franchise. Linking up with Darnold again left many optimistic, but their chemistry was almost non-existent and caused one or two public outbursts on the sidelines in the signal-caller’s direction.
Carolina resisted the temptation to trade Anderson in the hope he can return to his 2020 form. But it’s clear the wideout will not be in the slightest bit pleased if the Panthers pull the trigger on Mayfield in the coming weeks.
The question must be asked.
Why is Anderson so against the trade?
Carolina Panthers could have a Robby Anderson problem if they trade for Baker Mayfield
At least from a production standpoint, Mayfield is a significant upgrade on Darnold and also has a stunning playoff win on his resume. Something the USC product may never accomplish based on his career trajectory.
However, there are some serious questions about Mayfield’s attitude, maturity, and ability to inspire others around him. This obviously hasn’t gone unnoticed by Anderson, but whether his teammates feel the same is another matter.
Players across the league talk. Odell Beckham Jr.’s relationship with Mayfield and others such as Jarvis Landry also not seeing eye-to-eye with the player has changed the way he’s perceived in league circles by those who take the field.
Obviously, this probably won’t mean much to influential figures in Carolina. If they feel like Mayfield is the best possible option to assist this team in 2022 and the price isn’t too steep, then the primary decision-makers won’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
Anderson’s opinion is unlikely to hold much weight. And should Carolina go in this direction, he’ll just have to make the best of it regardless of what he thinks, in all honesty.
It’s not like Anderson’s production was anything to write home about last season. Getting his own house in order is of pivotal importance next season or it could be his last in the Queen City.
Nobody knows for sure which way the Panthers are going to go.
Not yet anyway.
All Anderson and the rest of us can do is wait and see if the speculation surrounding Mayfield amounts to anything more. But it’s pretty obvious how the Temple product wants things to play out.