By 4 p.m. ET today, we’ll find out if anyone is willing to take quarterback Baker Mayfield off the Carolina Panthers’ hands. So, could that “anyone” be San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch?
According to MMQB senior NFL reporter Albert Breer, there’s at least one person in the Panthers organization that believes it could be. Breer notes in his piece from Monday:
“’He’s a good locker room guy,’ said one Carolina staffer on Monday. ‘Very smart, [enough so] to pick up an offense quickly. I actually think he’d be good in the San Francisco offense. [Kyle] Shanahan would be good for him.'”
For that fit to happen, Mayfield would have to slide down to the waiver wire’s 24th slot—where San Francisco currently stands in line. Given the season-ending injuries to initial starter Trey Lance and now Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers may be interested in the former No. 1 overall pick if they’re not sold on their current passers in Brock Purdy or Josh Johnson.
Breer also adds that the Los Angeles Rams (No. 4), Arizona Cardinals (No. 8) and Seattle Seahawks (No. 20) may claim Mayfield just to block their NFC West foe. And if he is claimed—by any team—the Panthers are set to save $1.35 million for the remainder of the campaign.
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