The New York Giants are in line to face the recently traded Baker Mayfield in their regular season home opener against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 on Sept 18.
Mayfield was traded to the Panthers on Wednesday from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2024. The deal is pending a physical.
Mayfield, the first overall selection in the 2018 NFL draft, has been in limbo ever since the Browns traded for Houston’s Deshaun Watson this offseason.
Mayfield was drafted by the Browns one spot ahead of the Giants’ selection of Saquon Barkley. Mayfield finished second to Barkley in the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
There is a good chance that Mayfield will breeze past the Panthers’ current quarterback group of Sam Darnold, P..J. Walker and rookie Matt Corral.
From the Panthers:
“Mayfield joins Sam Darnold, PJ Walker, and rookie Matt Corral on the depth chart. Coaches have said throughout the offseason that if they had to play a game now, Darnold would start, but this deal obviously changes that, as it creates a competitive situation in training camp. Regardless of the circumstances of his departure from Cleveland, Mayfield has shown he can lead a team to the playoffs. That made it worth the chance for the Panthers, to see if they can get back to the postseason for the first time since 2017.”
As stated, there is plenty of time for Mayfield to learn the offense and gain the trust of the coaches in time to become their starter early on this season.
Week Two’s game versus the Panthers also marks the return of former head coach Ben McAdoo, who is now Carolina’s offensive coordinator.
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