Watch: Stephen A. Smith blasts Panthers' Baker Mayfield: 'Your career is in jeopardy'
Baker Mayfield had a lousy first month as the starting quarterback of a Carolina Panthers side that sits at 1-3 coming off Sunday's 26-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Even though certain statistics show Mayfield was one of the NFL's worst-performing players at the sport's most important position throughout the campaign's opening four weeks, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' website notes that head coach Matt Rhule told reporters Monday the first overall pick of the 2018 draft will remain his QB1 for at least this coming Sunday's home game versus the San Francisco 49ers. Before Rhule confirmed that decision, outspoken ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith blasted Mayfield during a segment that aired on Monday's edition of "First Take."
"Baker Mayfield, you look awful," Smith said. "Just awful. You do not look like a starting quarterback in the National Football League. And your career is in jeopardy because that's how sorry you look.
"I'm not saying that to get on you. I'm saying that to get you up, because I know you're better than this, and I'm not rooting against you."
Smith continued:
"The fact of the matter is you look god awful. Awful."
The Cleveland Browns replaced Mayfield atop their depth chart when they traded for star quarterback Deshaun Watson in March. The Browns then shipped Mayfield to Carolina in July.
Per ESPN stats, the 27-year-old began Monday dead last among eligible signal-callers with a 15.4 total QBR and 30th overall with a 75.0 passer rating on the season. Mayfield has completed just 54.7% of his throws and is 27th with 747 passing yards. He's matched four touchdown passes with three interceptions.
Mayfield defeated 2021 Week 1 Carolina starter Sam Darnold in a summer quarterback competition, and Darnold later went down with an ankle injury during the preseason that's kept him out of action since. Rhule said Monday that Darnold isn't yet ready to resume practicing ahead of the clash versus the 49ers.
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