Baker Mayfield Cut by Panthers After Lamar Jackson, Garoppolo Injuries

The veteran quarterback was allowed to hit waivers before the end of the regular season after he was released by the Carolinas.

According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the third quarterback on the depth chart was the one who asked for his release.

In seven appearances for the Carolinas this season, the quarterback threw for 1,313 yards, six touchdown and six interception. Cleveland will get a fifth-round pick instead of a fourth-round pick as a result of Carolina's release of him.

The timing of the release of Mayfield is not an accident.

The San Francisco 49ers lost Jimmy Garoppolo for the season to a foot injury on Sunday, while the Baltimore Ravens lost Lamar Jackson to a knee injury.

The release of the No. 1 overall pick allowed him to pursue a chance with a contender. If they were going to cut him before Sunday's games, they would have done so last week before the bye.

The 49ers are a better fit because they have less skill overlap between Jackson and Baker.

There is a quarterback depth chart in San Francisco. In relief of Garoppolo in Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins, Purdy looked surprisingly solid, but it seems unlikely that Kyle Shanahan will want him to lead the charge for a playoff team.

He's probably a better stopgap option than Purdy because he hasn't been a good starter in two years. He would be working with some of the best skill-position players he's ever worked with.

There is a chance that the 49ers will not be able to pick him up if a team claims him on waivers. That could be a smart move for a fellow playoff contender, especially since they only have to pay for the rest of the season.