Baker Mayfield vs. Sam Darnold: Is Carolina Panthers’ starting QB job Mayfield’s to lose? – Carolina Panthers Blog

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Wide receiver Rashard Higgins held tightly to his 11-month-old son in the back of a golf cart while discussing the “open” competition between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold for the Carolina Panthers’ starting quarterback job.

He joked that young Sevin got his name — with a tweak to the spelling — because seven follows six, the uniform number of Mayfield, his teammate and friend in Cleveland the past four seasons.

In other words, if anyone has reason to pull for Mayfield, it’s Higgins.

But when asked who he believes will start Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns, the player nicknamed “Hollywood” didn’t offer any clarity.

“Whoever makes that decision, it’s going to be a good one, so we’ll see,” he said with a smile.

That’s the company line.

Whether it’s Mayfield, acquired last month in a trade with the Browns, or Darnold, acquired last year in a trade with the New York Jets, the Panthers believe the competition between the No. 1 and No. 3 overall picks of the 2018 draft will make them better.

Whether you believe the competition is truly “open” or this is Mayfield’s job to lose — as many around the league believe — doesn’t matter, particularly to third-year coach Matt Rhule, whose future might depend on the outcome.

He states almost daily that this isn’t a one-day competition and it likely will take time to decide.

“I’ve been on record with what I think,” said Rhule, who opened training camp saying performance will decide the outcome. “I’ve just got to worry about the guys, and hopefully they feel good about the way we’re doing it.”

They seem to, and so far, neither has performed well enough to distance himself from the other.

“Everything is extremely transparent,” Mayfield said. “They’re telling us together how they’re handling it. It’s not being said to one person and Sam’s hearing other things. It’s right there in front of us, clear and concise.”

The preseason…