What do the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns have in common? It’s not a good thing that both cities have in common. It’s the problem behind center, the quarterback position which has haunted both franchises that make their home base on different lakes in the Midwest. Some thought Cleveland had their problem solved with Baker Mayfield being the face of their franchise the last few years. Mayfield indeed helped the Browns snap a long frustrating playoff drought. Injuries to Mayfield derailed the Browns last year, a team that had high hopes of making it deep into post-season play after making the playoffs the season prior. The writing was on the wall when the Browns gave away the house to land Deshaun Watson in a trade to Houston. Watson is an elite quarterback in the NFL, but a guy coming in with major baggage off the field with multiple sexual assault cases hanging over his head. Mayfield finally gets his wish as he has been dealt to the Carolina Panthers for only a fifth round draft pick that could turn into a 4th if Baker plays most of the upcoming season. Mayfield, a former first round pick by the Browns in 2018 from the University of Oklahoma, will be etched to that list of failed quarterbacks Cleveland has had since Bernie Kosar left town. Is Mayfield a failure? Could this deal haunt the Browns like all those bad football teams from recent years?

The Carolina Panthers have had lots of issues behind center over the last several years. The Panthers are not quite on the Bears’ and Browns’ list of Santa Clause’s naughty listings in his book of judgement. Panthers have had problems behind center since Cam Newton went soft. It took the Panthers a few years to figure that out. Panthers even brought back Newton last year when they saw the Sam Darnold experiment blow up in their face like a kid blowing out the candles leaving spittle all over the cake. Last year, P.J Walker was the best quarterback the Panthers had, and an XFL prodigy. The year before, the Panthers invested heavily into veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who they traded away after only one season. It’s surprising the Panthers had not resurrected the ghost of Jake Delhomme. Baker Mayfield, compared to the hot garbage Carolina has had the last few years behind center, is an instant upgrade.

Baker Mayfield has had only one winning season behind center for the Cleveland Browns in his first 4 years in the NFL. In 2020, Mayfield was 11-5 as the starter and led the Browns to the post-season, helping Cleveland win their first playoff game in a thousand years. Mayfield in post-season action is 1-1 with 4 touchdown passes to only one interception. It was the interception that haunted Mayfield last season as he threw 13 of them to 17 touchdown passes. Mayfield went 6-8 as a starter but showed grit playing with multiple injuries. Playing through pain & that football mentality ultimately would doom Mayfield out of the Dawg pound in Cleveland. Mayfield has played in 60 NFL games with a record of 29-30 as he completed 61.6% of his passes for 92 touchdown strikes and 56 interceptions. Before Mayfield took a step on the field, Tyrod Taylor was the Browns starting quarterback as the Panthers’ Superman had Kryptonite chills.

Carolina Panthers Wide Receiver Robbie Anderson has said that he did not want to play with Baker Mayfield several weeks ago. Is Mayfield a cancer in the locker room? Mayfield can bring an intense emotional “rah rah” type of voice to the locker room. Odell Beckham Jr. seems to be the only guy that lashed out at Baker Mayfield in Cleveland. Beckham Jr. not getting the ball is a problem for all quarterbacks in the league. Mayfield can be that guy who disrespected Ohio State’s logo during his college days playing for the Sooners. Can teams get sick of that type of leadership Mayfield has? In the NFL it sure can, but Mayfield’s injuries doomed him last year in Cleveland more than the team not backing him up on the field. Panthers have a young head coach in Matt Rhule and a young team that could work with Baker Mayfield’s leadership styles.

Baker Mayfield definitely needs a running game to help his passing game. If Christian McCaffrey can stay healthy and on the field for the Panthers, Mayfield will have one of the best backs in the game behind him. If Robbie Johnson buys in to Mayfield and team goals with D.J Moore, Mayfield has some nice targets to throw to. In the NFC South, we know Tom Brady and the Buccaneers are the top dog. We know the Atlanta Falcons without Matt Ryan, who was traded to Indianapolis is at the bottom of the barrel of the NFC South. New Orleans with Sean Payton stepping away from the game as head coach for the Saints. Do you trust Jameis Winston at quarterback without Payton whispering in his ear? Baker Mayfield in his final year of his rookie contract has lots to prove this upcoming season. Mayfield wants another contract. Mayfield wants to show he is healthy. Plus, Mayfield will be playing with a chip on his shoulder after his former team went after the rapist quarterback from Houston to replace him on the field, who was the face of the franchise. Will Mayfield’s commercials continue for Progressive Insurance with Baker and wife living in Panthers Stadium? Right now for one season, the Panthers could have a nice answer behind center for a change. I can see Mayfield sneaking the Panthers into post-season as a wild card. Beyond next season, maybe the Panthers could find a better option and not overpay for Mayfield’s services. With the Browns’ luck, Deshaun Watson will be suspended most of the season. Not sure I can say Mayfield leads a team to the Superbowl before Watson. Bernie Kosar never got the Browns to the Superbowl. Some things do not change like the Bears and Browns finding their answer behind center. The list will continue to roll out as trees will die from the waste of paper both these teams have had at the quarterback position over the few decades.