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Stephen A.: Baker Mayfield's career is in grave jeopardy (1:47)

Stephen A. Smith doesn't like the fact that the panthers are going to waive Baker Mayfield. 1:45

1:31 PM ET

They were hoping to revive his career when they agreed to trade the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018?

It wasn't close to the renaissance.

The starter went 0-6 as the starter and was on target for career lows in every major statistical category, including a 16.8 Total QBR. Sam Darnold and PJ Walker will be the Carolina's top quarterbacks for the rest of the season after he was released.

He would have been released soon even if he had been waived.

Since he didn't play 70% of the snaps this season, the conditional pick from Cleveland will be a fifth-round pick instead of a fourth-round one.

They are still looking for their quarterback.

There are still questions surrounding Mayfield.

Why didn't it work out for Mayfield in Carolina?

He was not the winner. That's it.

You could argue that the Carolinas didn't play to the strengths of the quarterback like the Cleveland team did in 2011. That type of commitment didn't come until after Matt Rhule was fired after a poor start to the season.

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Even though he committed to the run in his only start, the quarterback didn't reply. He was 21-of-33 for 196 yards and two turnovers. If it wasn't sealed before then, he would be dead. At that point, management probably knew that they wouldn't have a part in their long-term plans. They cut bait and moved on from the other side of the country.

Why did the Panthers release him now?

Once it was clear that Walker was ready to return from an ankle injury, the timing was perfect. It didn't benefit either side for that to happen. Even though he asked for his release, it didn't really change things, but it made him available in case the 49ers, Ravens or another team needs a quarterback.

When they traded for him, the Carolinas agreed to pay almost $5 million of his salary. In order to get that back, he agreed to take a cut in his salary with incentives. He's going to be a free agent in the summer.

Would the injury-depleted San Francisco 49ers consider signing Mayfield?

The Niners have to consider every option because they are already down to their No. 3 quarterback. That also includes the man. The Niners have to decide if Mayfield would be a good backup for Purdy.

Josh Johnson was added to the team because he was familiar with the offense from his time with the team in 2020. Will he be an upgrade over Johnson in the near future, since he played in a version of Kyle Shanahan's offense with the ClevelandBrowns?

There is a locker room that could be used. The bad blood between Nick Bosa and Mayfield goes back to college. Other quarterback-needy teams are in front of the Niners and they are not entirely in their control. It's possible that one of those teams could claim the quarterback, which would make another quarterback available for the Niners.

Is there a market for Mayfield beyond the 49ers now or in the offseason?

The market is not really hot. His time in Carolina was supposed to reset his career, but it probably hurt his case due to his career low completion percentage.

His days as an NFL starter could be numbered. The New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets and New York Giants could all start over at quarterback. There will be openings. He's not in the top of the list of free agents.

The upcoming free agent class includes Lamar Jackson, Tom Brady, Garoppolo, Geno Smith, and Daniel Jones. Demand and supply will affect his case.

What are the Panthers' quarterback options heading into 2023?

There is a draft.

This is a strong quarterback class and they're likely looking at a top 10 pick.

The best way to make sure long-term stability at quarterback is through the draft, according to the general manager. Last year's third-round pick, Matt Corral, is on IR with a foot injury.

If he agrees to backup money, the Carolinas could bring back Darnold as a bridge quarterback as they develop a draft pick. Walker could also be included in those plans.

It's clear that neither is a long-term fix for a problem that has plagued this team since the beginning of the year.