The Cleveland Browns story with QB Baker Mayfield didn’t end with the trade to the Carolina Panthers. Not only is the trade compensation that Cleveland received back conditional on Mayfield’s playing time but the two teams square off in Week 1.
For some fans, tracking Mayfield’s career and team accomplishments compared to that of QB Deshaun Watson and the Browns accomplishments may last for the next decade or so.
Outside of Week 1, Cleveland has some reasons to be rooting for their former top overall pick.
The Panthers have been splitting snaps between QB Sam Darnold and Mayfield all training camp with a competition between the two. Most observers have seen a clear difference between the former Heisman Trophy winner ahead of the former USC signal caller.
That makes it unsurprising that he is expected to win the QB competition and start against Cleveland in Week 1:
Baker Mayfield is expected to be named the Panthers starting QB for Week 1, per sources. He’s been competing with Sam Darnold but should be declared the starter when the team is ready to make the announcement. @TheAthletic
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) August 18, 2022
Barring something significant and as expected when the trade went down, it will be Browns versus Mayfield in North Carolina in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season.
