"It is what it is" - Sam Darnold reacts to Baker Mayfield being named Panthers QB1 for 2022 NFL season

When Baker Mayfield finally left the Cleveland Browns for the Carolina Panthers, Carolina head coach Matt Rhule was coy on who would be his starting quarterback come Week 1.

He made it clear that a quarterback competition between Mayfield and Sam Darnold would determine the starter. It appears that Mayfield won the battle in pre-season, with the Panthers announcing that the former No. 1 pick will start in Week 1 against his former team.

Darnold hasn't had a lot of good news this offseason, and this latest announcement must have hit hard. His reaction to losing the job to Baker Mayfield was strong, but he still showed support for his teammate.

"My mindset is it is what it is. And for me, right now, I’m going to do everything I can to support Baker and get him ready to play a game."

Darnold signed with the Panthers for the 2021 season, but injury sidelined him before the team could get a good idea of what they had. He displayed his class by publicly supporting Mayfield when he could have easily condemned the team's decision.

One has to wonder if Mayfield would have reacted in the same way. He demanded a trade from the Browns when they brought former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson to the team.

Both Mayfield and Darnold entered the NFL in the 2018 draft. The former was selected number one overall by the Browns and the latter picked at number three by the New York Jets. Of the two, Mayfield has had more success. He also has one playoff win under his belt following an 11-5 season in 2020.

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Baker Mayfield and the Carolina Panthers could snag a wildcard spot in the 2022 season

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At a recent press conference, Baker Mayfield said that despite his focus on the final preseason game, he will have a personal stake in taking on the Browns in Week 1. Cleveland will rely on either Jacoby Brissett or Joshua Dobbs to lead them in Watson’s absence.

"Obviously, there's a lot of attachment there," Mayfield said. "I'm not going to sit here and be a robot and say that it doesn't mean anything. It will. But right now, all that matters is me continuing to improve until this regular season starts."

When it comes to the Panthers, they are something of an unknown quantity. Mayfield may give them a better chance at making the postseason, but it will be tough.

They are in a division that includes Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so a division title is unlikely. They could nab a wildcard spot, with only three NFC teams considered clear-cut playoff locks. Aside from the Buccaneers, those teams are the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams.

The Panthers will be expecting an improved season compared to the last two campaigns. They finished 5-12 in the 2021 season. A poor start could spell the end of Matt Rhule's tenure. But with Christian McCaffrey finally healthy and Baker Mayfield in town, there's finally some optimism in Carolina.

We will see how they do in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.

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