Is Baker Mayfield already resigned to his Carolina Panthers fate?

Baker Mayfield already looks resigned to his eventual fate with the Carolina Panthers after he was benched in favor of Sam Darnold.

This season has certainly been a humbling one for Baker Mayfield. There was an incredible amount of optimism surrounding the quarterback following his trade to the Carolina Panthers, but what’s transpired before and after his spell on injured/reserve cannot be looked at with anything other than extreme disappointment.

It was supposed to be Mayfield’s road to redemption after some harsh treatment by the Cleveland Browns. An instant chance to prove his doubters wrong and get the Panthers back to relevancy for good measure.

Things haven’t been quite that simple. One could place blame on Matt Rhule’s methods once Mayfield came into the fold, but the signal-caller isn’t looking for a scapegoat and is taking full responsibility for his own failings despite the obvious adversity.

Baker Mayfield in reflective mood after Carolina Panthers benching

There isn’t the same brash demeanor where Mayfield is concerned anymore. Perhaps age and his current predicament brought an added sense of maturity, but the former Oklahoma standout also sounded almost resigned to his fate in Carolina beyond the current campaign during his recent media availability.

"“There’s a lot of things up in the air here for the future. I’m doing what I can, what I can control, and I know how my teammates feel about me and how I handled things here, so I can leave here with my head held high and understand I did everything I could. I’m looking at it, trying to find the positives, so yeah, it’s going to help me in the long run. But you have to handle situations everywhere you go. It’s never going to go as planned, and that’s just kind of how this year’s gone.”"

Mayfield is a lot of things, but an idiot isn’t one of them. He knows performances haven’t been good enough to warrant an extension with the Panthers and being benched for someone with Sam Darnold’s track record isn’t going to paint him in a glowing light around the league.

The Heisman Trophy winner’s adaptability as a supportive backup definitely works in his favor when it’s time for the free agency whirlwind. While Mayfield hasn’t earned the right to walk straight into a starting job, teams are always looking for an experienced understudy in case the worst happens to their No. 1 option.

Not many envisaged Mayfield slotting so well into this type of roll given his fierce character. This is a player that wants to be out on the field helping his team win football games, but no organization is going to bet their success on the signal-caller getting back to his 2020 form right now.

Players like Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston are proof that being a backup isn’t the end of the world. In fact, it can actually turn into a positive provided they learn, refocus, and take advantage of chances when and if they arrive.

In a perfect world, Mayfield would have thrived in Carolina. But sometimes reality is disappointing and it’s going to be a long, hard road back for the No. 1 overall selection in 2018 just five years into his professional career.

Considering how reflective Mayfield’s been lately, it would be a shock if we ever saw him taking competitive snaps for the Panthers again.