Baker Mayfield’s time in the Tar Heel State has come to an end with the Carolina Panthers putting their struggling quarterback on waivers Monday.

The former first overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, who led the Cleveland Browns to the AFC Divisional Round in the 2020 campaign was dealt to the Panthers over the 2022 offseason in exchange for a fifth-round selection in 2024.

He won the starting job at training camp but after a poor start to the year was benched first in favour of Sam Darnold before P.J. Walker became the starter.

It has not been a great year for Mayfield or Carolina who are third in the NFC South with a record of 4-8, while they went just 1-5 when the former Heisman trophy winner started.

Mayfield has completed 57.8% of his passes with the Panthers, throwing six touchdowns and six interceptions.

If no one claims him off waivers then he would become a free agent, giving him an opportunity sign with a team in need of quarterbacking help.

Potential teams

Mayfield may not be as hot of a commodity given his form at the moment, but there are teams out there who could use his services.

The first one which jumps out would the San Francisco 49ers, who have been without Trey Lance since the opening week, while Jimmy Garoppolo is done for the year after injuring his foot on Sunday in a victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Brock Purdy is next on the depth chart for San Fran, though Kyle Shanahan may want to bring in someone with playoff experience like Mayfield, who might fare well, in an offense filled with talented receivers and running backs.

Next on the list of teams’ that might need a veteran QB could be the Baltimore Ravens after Lamar Jackson got hurt in the opening quarter this past weekend on a sack from Jonathan Cooper.

While his knee injury is not considered season-ending, if he has to miss some time, John Harbaugh might be willing to bring Mayfield to Baltimore on a short-term basis given where they are in the standings right now.

The Ravens are in a dogfight with the Cincinnati Bengals for the lead in the AFC North, with both teams tied at 8-4.

Seeing as Baltimore self-destructed without their 25-year-old pivot last season, they might want a guy like Mayfield to ensure they remain in a playoff position.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are unlikely to make a move for him, however Trevor Lawrence injured his knee in a blowout loss to the Detroit Lions last Sunday, though he did return to action in that encounter.

Perhaps there’s an outside chance they bring him in but given that the Jags are well back of the playoffs in the AFC with a 4-8 record, Doug Pederson might just finish the campaign with CJ Beathard, assuming Lawrence isn’t 100%.