When the Detroit Lions visit the Carolina Panthers on Christmas Eve, they’re likely to be facing a different starting quarterback than what has been the expectation. The Panthers have traded for former Cleveland Browns starter Baker Mayfield.
Adding Mayfield for a conditional Day 3 pick in the 2024 NFL draft means that the Lions will be facing a more familiar adversary. Mayfield led the Browns to a 13-10 win against the visiting Lions in Week 11 last year. There is also experience against Mayfield from the annual preseason matchup between the two Great Lakes rivals. Mayfield, who was playing injured when he faced Detroit, completed 15-of-29 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown against the then-winless Lions.
Carolina still has Sam Darnold on the roster for a second season. The Panthers also traded up in the 2022 NFL draft to select Ole Miss QB Matt Corral. Darnold and Mayfield are each making $18.9 million on the fifth-year option of their rookie contracts as the top two picks of the 2018 draft.
