Panthers are only second team to have two top-three drafted QBs
Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are now teammates with the Carolina Panthers.
On Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns traded Mayfield to Carolina for a fifth-year pick. That comes a year after the New York Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Panthers for three selections, including a second rounder.
Back at the 2019 NFL draft, Mayfield was the top pick by the Browns. Darnold went two later to the Jets.
One will be the opening day starter at quarterback in Carolina. The other… could later start.
That certainly has to be the first time such a thing has ever happened, right?
Not so fast.
According to Elias Sports via ESPN, it would actually be the second time.
The Oakland Raiders had quarterbacks from the same draft, and same selections play for them in 1980: Jim Plunkett and Dan Pastorini. They were to first and third picks, respectively, from the 1971 draft.
Of course there are much different circumstances between the two sides, namely that Mayfield and Darnold ended up on the same team much sooner.
Regardless, this is the second time:
Re: Mayfield trade: If both Darnold + Mayfield play for Carolina this yr, it'll mark just 2nd time in Common Draft Era that a team has had multiple top-3 QBs from same draft play for them in a season. The 1980 Raiders had Plunkett and Pastorini (1st + 3rd in ‘71) @EliasSports
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) July 7, 2022
