Bucs' Baker Mayfield sends a strong message to Panthers QB Bryce Young when he needs it the most
Baker Mayfield knows a thing about being the number one overall pick. He also knows what it's like playing quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. As such, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting quarterback has a rather unique perspective of what Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young is going through right now. Young was benched after a 26-3 […]
Baker Mayfield knows a thing about being the number one overall pick. He also knows what it's like playing quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.
As such, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting quarterback has a rather unique perspective of what Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young is going through right now. Young was benched after a 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at home, in which he went 18/24 passing for just 84 yards with an interception.
Mayfield met with the media on Wednesday at One Buc Place, and he had a strong and encouraging prediction about the Panthers' young quarterback.
"Obviously mine didn't happen in the same time frame as Bryce, but quarterback is hard, especially for young guys," Mayfield said. "When you're not surrounded with the pieces, you're not given the opportunity to have success. So, a lot of the time, guys might have the talent, might have the brains, but they don't have the right opportunity, the right fit. I mean, I'm sitting here right now in a way better fit than the other places I've been. And that's not to put other teams down, but it's a matter of the pieces around you, the coaches. And for Bryce, a guy that you know, I can relate to this, finding that belief within yourself again.
"He'll get it. His story is far, far from finished."
Mayfield understands the pressures of being the top overall pick as well as playing for a putrid Carolina team. Mayfield was the top overall pick by the Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft, ultimately ending up with Carolina in July 2022 by trade from Cleveland. Mayfield started six games for the Panthers (1-5 record), posting a career-worst 57.8 completion percentage with 1313 passing yards, 6 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He was released in December 2022.
Mayfield is also right about the right opportunity for a young player. Carolina's roster is simply subpar, and playing and coaching under the pressure cooker that is an apparent loose cannon of an owner in David Tepper isn't much help either. While Young's struggles go beyond that, as far as decision making and simply bad play, the environment couldn't be much worse for a young QB.
We'll see what the future holds for Young, but Mayfield is one who should be listened to regarding finally finding the right situation and flourishing. If he's right, then somewhere, sometime down the road, it's likely Young will have a much better showing than he's put forth through his first 17 games.
It just might not be in Carolina.
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