5 ambitious goals for Panthers QB Baker Mayfield in 2022
By Dean Jones
What are some ambitious goals for Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield during a potential road to redemption in 2022?
The hard work starts now for Baker Mayfield and the Carolina Panthers after a long-running saga finally concluded last week. A financial compromise was reached at long last, giving Matt Rhule yet another veteran signal-caller from the trade market to depend on in pursuit of getting this organization back to relevance.
Mayfield has a chip on his shoulder and is already planning a get-together with his new pass-catchers with a view to hitting the ground running in training camp. The Panthers were keen to state that it will be true competition in Spartanburg between the Oklahoma product, Sam Darnold, and rookie Matt Corral, but it would be a major disappointment if the recent addition wasn’t under center in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.
This is a make-or-break campaign for Mayfield, who is looking to prove his doubters wrong after the Browns cast him aside in favor of Deshaun Watson. He’s no doubt heard all the reports regarding his immaturity and inability to lead, so it will be interesting to see how all this plays out next season in a different environment.
With this in mind, here are five ambitious goals for Mayfield with the Panthers in 2022.
Ambitious Goal No. 1
Baker Mayfield secures a career-high completion percentage
The regression Baker Mayfield displayed last season was alarming. But it’s also worth remembering the quarterback suffered a torn labrum in Week 2 and decided to play through the pain.
This had an adverse impact on production and the numbers Mayfield accumulated in 2020 when he led Cleveland to the postseason. The Carolina Panthers will be hoping that the former Heisman Trophy winner returns to something like his old form fully healed and there is plenty of motivation for the player with his long-term aspirations in jeopardy.
Mayfield’s career-best completion percentage is 63.8, which he secured during a solid rookie campaign. If he can go above this number in 2022, then the Panthers will reap the rewards with an abundance of talent around him.