Who is Baker Mayfield signing for? Rams claim former Panthers QB off waivers

The Los Angeles Rams have signed former first-overall pick Baker Mayfield off the waiver wire. The former Carolina Panthers quarterback asked for his release from the team after he was benched in favor of Sam Darnold.

The Rams have played their last three games without star quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has been out with a concussion. Los Angeles placed Stafford on the injured reverse list, all but confirming that the quarterback won't feature again this season.

Why did the Rams sign Baker Mayfield?

Signing Baker Mayfield is an intriguing move by the Rams. They are currently 3-9 and have no chance of making it to the playoffs. They likely signed the former Cleveland Browns star to give him the opportunity to compete with their current starter John Wolford.

Mayfield and Wolford will compete for the Rams' starting quarterback job for their remaining five games of the season. The winner of the duel will likely retain their spot on the roster next year. The former first-overall pick will cost the Rams just over $1.3 million. However, Mayfield wil doubtless be looking for a starting role and a salary to reflect that.

Baker Mayfield's final opportunity

Mayfield asked for his release from the Panthers so he could hit waivers and be picked up by a team in need of a starting quarterback.

The San Francisco 49ers (who lost quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a foot injury in their win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday) were rumored to be a potential landing spot for Mayfield. But head coach Kyle Shanahan played down the possibility of the team claiming the former Panthers quarterback off waivers.

The Rams', who were also in need of a starting quarterback to get them through the season, pulled the trigger and landed Mayfield. If he fails to win the starting quarterback role over Wolford, his career in the NFL as a starter will likely be over.

Mayfield ended the Browns' long wait for a playoff appearance in 2020 but has since been underwhelming, with injuries also hampering the quarterback's play. The Rams are Mayfield's final opportunity as he will be a free agent at the end of the season. It will be interesting to see how he gets on.