Welter: 2022 is the end of the road for Rhule, Darnold and Mayfield

By Pat Welter, WRAL sports multimedia journalist

They walked onto the Wofford College practice field together. Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield side by side down the pavement onto the grass. There's a white fence along it, about fifty fans were pressed up against it hoping to get an autograph from any Carolina Panthers player, but when Darnold and Mayfield came out, the fans only yelled one name.

"Baker, Baker, Baker!" the fans cheered. One fan had a Mayfield Browns jersey in his hands, another had a photoshopped photo of Mayfield in a Panthers No. 6 blue jersey.

"I heard a couple," Darnold laughed with the media after practice about hearing his name called too.

Darnold has a sense of humor. He also has self awareness. He was asked Tuesday upon his arrival at Wofford whether he thought about asking for a trade. "No," he said. "He then added I'm not in a position to do that. That's not who I am."

Darnold is a former No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets who is most likely facing his last chance to be a starter. The Jets traded him to Carolina last April for a 2021 6th round pick and 2nd and 4th round picks in 2022. The Panthers then proceeded to pick up Darnold's 5th year option. Which is something I'm sure behind closed doors they regret.

Darnold played within himself during the Panthers three game win streak to start 2021. The Panthers felt strongly enough about his start to bolster the defense with trades for former top ten pick CJ Henderson and All-pro Stephon Gilmore.

Christian McCaffrey's hamstring injury in a week three win over the Texans was the beginning of Darnold's struggles. They'd lose their next four games including a 25-3 loss to the Giants in which Darnold was benched. Darnold and the Panthers snapped the losing streak with an ugly win at Atlanta, but Darnold took a massive hit in the Falcons redzone. PJ Walker would have to finish the game. Darnold played the next week versus New England. It was like a sequel of Darnold's infamous "I'm seeing ghosts" game versus Bill Belichick when he was with the Jets. He threw for 172 yards and three interceptions. In the days following the game Darnold was shut down with a fractured scapula in his right throwing shoulder. He'd return for the final three games (all losses) of the season splitting time for some of it with Cam Newton.

"As a whole last year I didn't play as well as I could have, obviously I got hurt which didn't help the situation," Darnold said. "If I get an opportunity it's about playing well, playing consistent, not turning the ball over, getting the ball in the endzone."

Darnold knows this is his final chance, but I'd argue it's probably already over. Darnold turned the ball over at USC and has turned the ball over in the NFL. He still can make the exuberant improvisational plays he made with the Trojans, but they are often times followed by a head scratching mistake.

Mayfield's resume leaves me more optimistic. Mayfield probably never expected to be here. The Deshaun Watson trade caught everyone by surprise given Watson's legal circumstances. Mayfield requested a trade ironically after Cleveland thought they were out of the running to land Watson from the Texans according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter. His camp's talks with the Panthers were ongoing through the draft and afterwards according to GM Scott Fitterer and they finally agreed on a deal that saddled Cleveland with a chunk of Mayfield's salary.

In Mayfield Carolina is getting a guy who went 11-5 two years ago. He lead Cleveland to its first playoff win since 1994. He suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder week two of 2021 and played through it the rest of the year. He was stubborn then and he was stubborn on Carolina's first day of camp.

"Pretty stupid for wearing longsleeves and pants," Mayfield said after practice. "But I'm stubborn so I had to learn for myself."

Mayfield played for four coaches in his first three years in Cleveland. There's plenty of reason to believe he could still be the guy we saw win the Heisman at Oklahoma. Then again he might not have had organizational stability in Cleveland, but he was on a team loaded with offensive and defensive talent. He certainly has a less talented roster here in Carolina.

"Some good things, not excited about some of the throws accuracy wise," Mayfield said about his first day of practice. "Got a little greedy on one, got to take care of the ball."

You can tell Mayfield is restraining his brash personality in his first two media sessions with the Panthers beat. It remains to be seen if he can reel in his play. Outside of his 2020 playoff campaign he's thrown double digit interceptions his other three years. It's Matt Rhule's job to try to strike that balance.

"We want to eliminate careless mistakes," Rhule said about his quarterbacks. "We want these guys to go play aggressive. They are NFL quarterbacks I want them to go back and make the throws, but just like I said last year I want them to make them on time, where they are supposed to be."

If it's the last chance for Darnold and Mayfield, it definitely is for Rhule. NFL coaches have been fired for less and have had far fewer chances to find a quarterback. From Teddy Bridgewater to Darnold, to Cam Newton part II, and now Baker and rookie Matt Corral. Owner David Tepper has shown patience. With two veteran quarterbacks and the addition of Ben McAdoo at offensive coordinator, Rhule has no more excuses.

"It's the beginning of us establishing our standards of how we are going to play" Rhule said after his first practice.

Darnold and Mayfield walked onto the field together for the first practice of the season. If one of them can't elevate Carolina to a playoff contender this season they will be walking off it and into unemployment with Rhule.