Two years ago, the Carolina Panthers had Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold on their roster.
The team decided neither player was good enough to be their franchise quarterback.
The Panthers released Mayfield late in the 2022 season, and Darnold left as a free agent a few months later after both struggled in Carolina.
Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, has made a strong comeback. He is now leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers toward a second consecutive NFC South title. He has put up impressive stats with 4,279 passing yards and 39 touchdowns.
Darnold, picked just below Mayfield in the draft, has found success in Minnesota. He has thrown for 4,153 yards and 35 touchdowns, helping the Vikings (14-2) maintain a nine-game winning streak and compete for the top NFC playoff spot.
Mayfield’s nearly perfect 359-yard, five-touchdown performance in a 48-14 win over the Panthers, and Darnold’s 377-yard, three-touchdown game in a 27-25 victory over Green Bay, show how badly Carolina failed to develop these quarterbacks and give them the right support.
Mayfield, in particular, enjoys reminding the Panthers of their mistake, remaining unbeaten (4-0) against Carolina since his departure.
Many of the people responsible for those decisions in 2022 are no longer with the team. Coach Matt Rhule was fired early that season, and interim coach Steve Wilks did not return for 2023.
General manager Scott Fitterer, who traded for both quarterbacks but then let them go, was also fired after three unsuccessful seasons.
Looking for more stability at quarterback, the Panthers decided to move on from Mayfield and Darnold. They traded up in the draft to select Bryce Young from Alabama as the No. 1 overall pick in 2023.
To make this trade, the Panthers gave up wide receiver D.J. Moore and four draft picks, one of which will become the first overall pick in 2024.
Carolina’s failure to recognize the potential in Mayfield and Darnold may have hurt the franchise for a long time. The Panthers will miss the playoffs in 2024, marking their seventh consecutive year without postseason football. Given the current state of the team, there is a good chance that streak will continue.
