4 offseason moves already proving costly for the Panthers in 2022

Carolina Panthers traded for Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield‘s arrival to the Carolina Panthers via trade from the Cleveland Browns received a mixed reaction. But after a smooth transition to a different environment in camp, some excitement grew regarding what he could potentially bring to the franchise in 2022.

Mayfield comfortably beat out Sam Darnold for the starting job and immersed himself well within the locker room. His brief stints on the field during preseason games only whet the appetite further ahead of a crunch clash against his former team in Week 1.

Unfortunately for Mayfield, it’s been abysmal. He isn’t the only one that should take the blame for what’s unfolding on offense, but the quarterback has to do a better job of dragging this team up from the doldrums and into an efficient unit in the coming weeks.

The former Oklahoma sensation is having difficulty with batted passes, which is nothing new. Hesitancy in the pocket is another major flaw and timing is way off with his primary playmakers in a scheme that isn’t exactly setting the NFL alight.

With Darnold some time away from returning from a high ankle sprain, it appears as if Mayfield will man the plate for a while yet. And if Rhule does eventually go back to the USC product, then it represents a waving of the white flag from a head coach seemingly out of his depth.

Mayfield didn’t seem too bothered about the boos ringing down from the stands at Bank of America Stadium. But it’s hard to look at his performance levels so far and not think this is another in a long line of failed Carolina personnel moves at football’s most important position.