Steve Smith Likens Sam Darnold To A Librarian When Making Case For Baker Mayfield

It’s safe to say that watching Sam Darnold play one season for the Panthers was enough for legendary receiver Steve Smith.

During the broadcast of Carolina’s preseason game today, Smith went on a rant about Darnold, comparing him to a librarian when making a case for Baker Mayfield to be the team’s starter.

“Sam Darnold’s going to put you to sleep reading a book. We don’t need any librarians out here,” Smith said during today’s broadcast.

"Sam Darnold's going to put you to sleep reading a book. We don't need any librarians out here…."

-Steve Smith, saying that in his opinion Baker Mayfield should be the Panthers starting quarterback.

— Josh Klein (@joshkleinrules) August 20, 2022

Steve Smith would go on to admit he has some criticisms of Baker Mayfield, but would most definitely give him the nod over Sam Darnold.

On the TV broadcast, Steve Smith concedes he's been critical of Baker Mayfield. But believes he should be the Panthers' starter.

— Joe Person (@josephperson) August 20, 2022

In Steve Smith’s defense, last season was pretty brutal for Sam Darnold.

In his first year trusted to lead the Panthers, Darnold started 12 games, throwing just nine touchdowns to go along with 13 interceptions on the season.

Still, Panthers head coach Matt Rhule has given Darnold a chance to win the starting job in a competition against Baker Mayfield. And he still isn’t ready to pick his QB1.

“Not yet,” Rhule said, when asked following the team’s second preseason game whether he’s ready to name a starting quarterback. “You know, not prepared for anything right now other than watching this tape. Like I said all along, when we know we know, and we’ll announce something when it’s right.”

Because a lot of the Panthers starters didn’t play in their second preseason game against the Patriots, Rhule thinks both Darnold and Mayfield deserve some more time to prove themselves.

“The ones didn’t play and those guys [Mayfield and Darnold] are both competing to be with the ones, so we wanted to make sure they had a chance,” Rhule said. “We didn’t want to put one or two guys out there and play them behind the second offensive line.”

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