5 bold predictions following Panthers trade for Baker Mayfield

Carolina Panthers trade Sam Darnold to the Seahawks by Week 4

After Baker Mayfield secures the starting job and with Sam Darnold on the final year of his contract, Scott Fitterer will strike a deal with his former employer to send the troubled quarterback to the Seattle Seahawks in a similar fashion that brought his replacement into the fold.

Seattle, without franchise quarterback Russell Wilson for the first time in a decade, is currently trotting out Drew Lock and Geno Smith. Not exactly a recipe for success given their production so far.

Lock and Darnold are similar players. But the former No. 3 overall selection takes a slight edge in the athleticism department.

With Lock in the final season of a four-year contract, Seattle might be willing to send a late-rounder to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for Darnold by Week 4 if their current options completely fail to meet even lowly expectations.

This will provide the Seahawks with two options to evaluate for the future of the franchise and solidify Mayfield as the starter while Matt Corral is able to develop.

The Darnold experiment will conclude without much fanfare as the former USC Trojan will be back on the west coast. And nobody will be sad to see him go, in all honesty.