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3 reasons Baker Mayfield could take the Panthers to the playoffs

By Greg Newland

Jan 9, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) walks off the field with the team before the game between the Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) walks off the field with the team before the game between the Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Baker Mayfield
Nov 14, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 – The Roster

The Carolina Panthers have been down for a few years now, but they are similar to a few of those Browns teams in the late 2000s, they just need a quarterback. They have arguably the best all-around back in the league with, and they have plenty of targets on the outside with Robbie Anderson and D.J. Moore.

The defense is lacking some talent up front, but they have built a strong linebacker core and secondary led by Cory Littleton and the rising star Jeremy Chinn. I’m not saying this defense can be a top-five unit in the league, but they can get a few stops when they need one.

The biggest question for this team will be the offensive line. They added a few guys this offseason, but it’s a team that is banking on their rookie left tackle taken at pick No. s6 (Ikem Ekwonu) to be elite to protect Mayfield.

There were plenty of bad decisions made by Mayfield last season in Cleveland, but injuries to Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin made things extremely tough. I don’t care how good your interior offensive line is, if you can’t stop the edge rush things are going to be difficult.

The bottom line is, that a lot of people wanted to trash this roster and say it’s no good. The ownership is shaky at best, but if the coaching staff can get these guys to buy in and Mayfield plays as he did in parts of 2020, this team could be extremely competitive in the NFC South.

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