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Baker Mayfield has officially been released by the Carolina Panthers. He lasted less than one full season with his new team after being acquired via trade from the Cleveland Browns during the offseason. Mayfield was recently benched for Sam Darnold, another struggling quarterback, and Mayfield asked to be released. The Panthers obliged and the quarterback is available on waivers.
It has been a rollercoaster ride for Baker Mayfield since being selected by the Browns with the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. He had an impressive college football career with the Oklahoma Sooners. While Mayfield has shown flashes of greatness throughout his career, it's fair to say he has been an overall disappointment. Especially considering his status as the first overall draft pick.
Following his release from the Panthers, it's entirely possible that Baker Mayfield has already seen his last opportunity as a full-time starting quarterback. Here are three reasons why he could be destined to become a backup or a journeyman for the remainder of his NFL career.
#1 - Baker Mayfield's production has severely regressed
Baker Mayfield finished in second place in the Offensive Rookie of the Year award voting during his first season with the Cleveland Browns in 2018. He struggled a bit during his second campaign, as many young quarterbacks do, but he exploded with the best performances of his career during the 2020 NFL season. He helped the Browns reach the playoffs, where they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round.
Mayfield recorded an impressive 31 total touchdowns against just nine interceptions. Things have gone severely downhill, and he has recorded just 23 passing touchdowns against 19 interceptions since. The 2020 season is also the only time that Mayfield has led a team to a winning record. His career record sits at 31-36 with a mediocre 98 touchdowns against 62 interceptions.
#2 - Baker Mayfield has failed with two different NFL franchises in five years
Following his disappointing conclusion with the Browns, Mayfield was traded to the Panthers. Many around the NFL believed a change of scenery would help Mayfield get back on track. It didn't work out that way as he lost his job to Sam Darnold and was released before a full season was completed.
It's rare for any quarterback to get a third opportunity at a full-time starting job following two previous failures. He may get other opportunities in the short term, but it's hard to imagine him winning a new job outright, especially considering how much he's regressed since 2020.
#3 - Baker Mayfield has a questionable attitude
When the Browns acquired Deshaun Watson via trade from the Houston Texans, Mayfield was very public with how upset he was. He took to the media to demand a trade and force his way off the team. This wasn't the first time Mayfield encountered negative media attention in Cleveland. He often got into arguments with media personalities and also aired many of his opinions on social media.
The relatively controversial nature of Mayfield could potentially hurt his chances of another NFL team taking a chance on him as a starting quarterback. If he were to play the position at an extremely high level, he may be worth the risk, but that's not where he's currently at in his NFL career.
