Panthers QB Sam Darnold: GM 'said not to worry about' trade rumors

The Carolina Panthers traded with the Cleveland Browns for quarterback Baker Mayfield last month, and it was reported on Monday that Mayfield has "the inside track" to win the starting job over Panthers 2021 Week 1 starter Sam Darnold. It had also been rumored that Carolina could look to trade Darnold at some point during or shortly after the preseason. 

Per July reports, Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer didn't "have any intention" of shopping Darnold and instead wanted the 25-year-old to compete with Mayfield through August. According to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, Darnold spoke with reporters on Monday and insisted he's been assured he's in Fitterer's plans for the upcoming campaign. 

"I talked to Scott and he said not to worry about it," Darnold said of the trade rumors. "So, to be honest, before he even talked to me, I didn’t even see it. So, like I said, like I continue to say, I’m going to continue to do me and do what I can to put myself in a good position and put this team in a good position."

As Simmons pointed out, Darnold is on track to earn roughly $18.8 million guaranteed this season via the fifth-year option of his contract, so trading the signal-caller could prove to be difficult even if the Panthers wanted to move on from him sooner than later. Head coach Matt Rhule said over the weekend he won't pick the winner of the quarterback competition until after Carolina faces the New England Patriots on Aug. 19, so Darnold theoretically still has time to impress the coaching staff and potentially earn snaps for at least the Week 1 matchup versus the Browns.