Teams reportedly don't view Baker Mayfield as an NFL starter

It seems clubs may not be climbing over each other to sign quarterback Baker Mayfield before Christmas Day. 

Shortly after the Carolina Panthers waived Mayfield on Monday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that "teams I've talked to say his days as an NFL starter could be numbered." As noted by David Newton of ESPN, Mayfield asked for his release because he was demoted on the depth chart behind Sam Darnold and PJ Walker. 

Mayfield's fall from grace began when he suffered what was eventually learned to be a torn labrum on his non-throwing left shoulder while starting for the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 of the 2021 season. Cleveland's first pick of the 2018 NFL Draft attempted to play through the injury but was never the same, and the Browns ultimately replaced him when they acquired Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans this past March. 

Cleveland traded Mayfield to Carolina in July, and he defeated Darnold in a summer competition for the QB1 role. That was about as good as things got for the 27-year-old, as he went 1-5 as a starter with the Panthers and left plenty to be desired with his play. 

ESPN stats show Mayfield began Monday with a league-worst 18.2 total QBR on the campaign. To compare, Davis Mills of the Texans is 30th out of 31 players with a 29.7 total QBR. Mayfield is also 32nd with a woeful 57.8% completion percentage. 

Insiders and fans, alike, have linked Mayfield with the San Francisco 49ers because they lost Jimmy Garoppolo to a broken left foot on Sunday after Week 1 starter Trey Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2. However, ESPN's Nick Wagoner reports that seventh-round draft pick Brock Purdy "is going to be the starter moving forward" even if the 49ers add Mayfield to a roster that includes Purdy and veteran backup Josh Johnson. 

"Mayfield hasn't exactly endeared himself to key Niners, including defensive end Nick Bosa, who has some bad blood with Mayfield that dates back to college," Wagoner explained. San Francisco smashed Mayfield and the Panthers 37-15 in Week 5. 

Purdy completed 25-of-37 passes for 210 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in Sunday's 33-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins and is on track to make his first pro start when the 8-4 49ers host the 5-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14. Tampa Bay faces the 4-8 New Orleans Saints on Monday night.