The Panthers demoted Baker Mayfield to No. 3 on their depth chart, which caused the quarterback to request a release from the team. Carolina granted him that, waiving him on Monday.
Mayfield couldn’t pick his next team because he was subject to waivers, giving any team the opportunity to claim him. But he had a really good feeling he’d be a Ram the next day.
After leading the Rams to a miraculous comeback win over the Raiders on Thursday night, Mayfield said on Amazon’s postgame show that he booked a flight to Los Angeles before even knowing he’d been claimed by the Rams.
“I took a gamble. I booked a flight before the waiver wire went through,” he said.
Mayfield wound up being right, and it helped that the Rams were fourth in the waiver order, which made it easier for them to end up with the veteran quarterback. He said he landed in Los Angeles around 7 o’clock at night on Tuesday, got in one practice on Wednesday and somehow managed to beat the Raiders a day later.
Mayfield knew he wasn’t going to start the game – that title went to John Wolford – but he also knew he was going to be ready when his number was called.
“I knew I wasn’t gonna start,” he said. “We were just seeing how John was gonna feel. I was gonna be ready no matter what.”
Mayfield was more than ready. He was spectacular.