Baker Mayfield’s 3 best weapons with the Carolina Panthers

Baker Mayfield has been traded to the Carolina Panthers, but who is he going to be playing with?

You didn’t think we were done talking about Baker Mayfield, did you? Considering we talk about ex-Cleveland sports stars all the time, you really shouldn’t have thought that at all. Peyton Hillis, Kyrie Irvin, LeBron James, Bartolo Colon, Josh Gordon, and Johnny Manziel have all been talked about this year alone. So of course we’re going to be looking at what Mayfield is going to have to play with as a member of the Carolina Panthers.

Mayfield will always be connected to the Cleveland Browns and that means he’ll always be a subject of conversation when it’s worthwhile to have that. Since the Browns are meeting the Panthers in Week 1, this is even more imperative to know who the Browns will be facing off with.

There’s also a conversation about whether or not the Browns or Panthers have better weapons for a quarterback to have. I think the Panthers have a top receiver that the Browns really have never had, and a running back who is as complete as anyone in the league but the depth is the issue. I think it’s a wash at the top two play-makers on each team, but the Browns clearly have better depth.

And I’m not a person who thinks the Browns have great playmakers beyond Nick Chubb.

I’m on record and will go on record again, that I don’t think the Browns had the best receiving options during Mayfield’s run, especially not after Jarvis Landry’s career-altering injury. Yes, Chubb is the best runner in the NFL, but Kareem Hunt was never a great option in the passing game. Either because Hunt isn’t the player many make him out to be or because Kevin Stefanski doesn’t know how to use him.

That said, Mayfield is not getting an upgraded offense. They might have a better second or third wide receiver than the Browns but do they have a better No. 1? A better running back? A better tight end? A better offensive line?

No. So who does he have?

Three of the best weapons Baker Mayfield will have to work with as a Carolina Panther

Christian McCaffery

As far as running backs go, a healthy Christian McCaffery can rival Nick Chubb in pure production, but health matters so much. Chubb is that 1973 Dodge Charger, it just won’t quit and will run through everything. McCaffery is the Lamborgini Huracan Tecnica. Beautiful, fast, and breaks if it hits a pothole. If McCaffery can stay healthy, there’s every chance he hits 2,500 total yards, maybe even more with Mayfield under center. If he’s healthy, he’s as good as anything the Browns have, and a marketed improvement over a guy like Hunt.

DJ Moore

I firmly believe DJ Moore is better than any receiver that Mayfield has had over the last four years. Maybe not by much, a prime Landry was impressive, but still, Landry would lose a foot race to most fans, while Moore is a true 4.42 speedster. That is a good thing for Mayfield. Moore, if healthy, will give Mayfield plenty of opportunities to test out his arm cannon.

Rashard Higgins

Now, this is the problem with the Panthers, outside of Moore and McCaffery, they don’t have anyone. You need more than one great receiver and a potentially game-breaking running back to win a game. So the next best option is Rashard Higgins, simply due to the past chemistry and success the two have had.

The Panthers may want to consider getting another player because Higgins and Robby Anderson aren’t going to cut it as options if the Panthers intend on competing in 2022.