CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After months of on-again, off-again negotiations, quarterback Baker Mayfield is now a member of the Carolina Panthers after they sent the Cleveland Browns a 2024 conditional draft pick for him in Wednesday's trade.
But does adding Mayfield make the Panthers a playoff team in 2022?
According to ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky, it does, if they get the 2020 version of Mayfield, who that season led the Browns to an 11-5 record and a playoff win while throwing 26 touchdown passes to eight interceptions.
If Carolina gets that version of Mayfield instead of the 2021 version -- who struggled to a 6-8 record with 17 touchdown passes to 13 interceptions while dealing with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder -- Orlovsky likes Mayfield better than returning starter Sam Darnold.