An NFC West Team Has Claimed Baker Mayfield, but Not the One You Think

On Monday adhering to the Week 13 slate of games, news broke that the Carolina Panthers would be releasing previous No. 1 total decide on QB Baker Mayfield. All through the offseason, Carolina experienced traded for Mayfield, and this type of launch was unheard of for a previous No. 1 decide on.

Even however, the launch built on issue seem relatively apparent: the San Francisco 49ers would be the staff to assert him. The Niners experienced just lost Jimmy Garappolo for the time with a damaged foot, and the only other choice presently on the roster was the 2022 Draft’s “Mr. Irrelevant”, Brock Purdy.

As if the only other alternative becoming the extremely final select of the draft did not make this evident ample, the Niners’ file sat at 8-4. They were being poised to, at minimal, make the playoffs if not have a deep operate. They ended up a clear fit for Mayfield.

Perfectly, as things played out on Tuesday, the situation did take place where by an NFC West group has claimed Baker Mayfield off waivers. Except, it isn’t the a person that everybody assumed it would be. Alternatively, the Los Angeles Rams took the fifth-calendar year QB.

At 3-9, this feels like a unusual preference, even if the Rams do not have their first-round choose this calendar year. LA does not feel to have a massive total of incentive to gain online games, primarily thinking about they are on monitor to choose No. 35 in the second spherical. This isn’t the equal of possessing a prime 10 pick, to be confident, but there’s still some strong vale in that position.

So why do this? Properly, most likely they assume Baker Mayfield could uncover a new resurgence with Sean McVay. With Matthew Stafford’s time becoming ended by accidents, possibly LA is already planning for their next QB.

Nonetheless, the far more entertaining purpose for this is that they only did not want to support their division rival 49ers. San Francisco missing out on Mayfield usually means that they will in actuality have to go ahead with their seventh-spherical rookie Purdy.

Possibly way, this helps make items far better for the Vikings shifting ahead. With a tested QB, the 49ers are a respectable Tremendous Bowl risk. Without having just one, they very likely demonstrate significantly much less of a menace heading into the playoffs.

Josh Frey is a Course of 2020 graduate of The Higher education of Idaho with a bachelor’s diploma in Creative Creating. He also gained minors in Background, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon teaching, enjoying video clip online games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For additional of his viewpoints, examine out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Rooster.