From the 2018 draft to the 2022 Carolina Panthers, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield have built a bond in the NFL. And that bond took a bit of a turn this week.
On Monday, Mayfield and the Panthers agreed to part ways—as the former No. 1 overall pick was released. Then, on Tuesday, he’d be claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams, effectively ending his short tenure in Carolina.
Darnold, following Wednesday’s practice, was asked about his thoughts on the departure.
“First and foremost, the guy and just who he is—throughout training camp, having a competition with him and all that—he was nothing but the best to me and all the guys in the locker room and the coaching staff. Total class act—not only in training camp, but throughout the season as well with everything that happened. Him getting hurt, me and PJ [Walker] playing a little bit. Nothing but a class act. And, again, such a great teammate to have in the locker room.”
Mayfield, of course, beat Darnold out for the starting job this summer. But after Mayfield sustained a high-ankle sprain and continued to struggle throughout his starts, Walker and Darnold got their chances—with the latter of the two recently staking claim to the gig.
And that part of the business is something Darnold knows all too well.
“I think any time you can find work in this league—like I kinda said last week—any time you get an opportunity to play in this league, it’s a great opportunity,” he said of Mayfield landing with the Rams. “And I know he feels the same way that I do in that regard, in that you don’t take any snap for granted you get in this league.”
Funnily enough, they both might be getting snaps this week—as Los Angeles is set to host the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night.
