4 major observations from Panthers QB Baker Mayfield’s home debut
By Dean Jones
What are some major observations from Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s preseason performance against the Buffalo Bills?
There was an enormous sense of excitement at Bank of America Stadium on Friday evening as Baker Mayfield made his home debut for the Carolina Panthers.
Their final preseason outing against the Buffalo Bills was a chance for the quarterback to get extended reps in a gameday setting for the first time. This added another layer of intrigue to the contest despite Josh Allen and others sitting out for the visitors.
The Panthers are placing a significant amount of faith in Mayfield next season after acquiring him from the Cleveland Browns. There is no doubt he provides Carolina with a better chance to win right now, but what the future holds between the player and organization beyond the current campaign remains undecided.
With that being said, here are some major observations from Mayfield’s performance versus the Bills in preseason Week 3.
Major Observation No. 1
Carolina Panthers can benefit from Baker Mayfield’s calmness
Although most first-string players on the Buffalo Bills sat out the contest, it was refreshing to see an air of calmness under center. Something that was missing more often than not in 2021.
Baker Mayfield was poised in the pocket, going through his reads effectively under center and making the correct decisions. The Oklahoma product also looked composed when pressure arrived, taking care of the football and providing an assured presence overall.
The Carolina Panthers will need more of this when the regular season arrives. But the early signs are very positive indeed.