Baker passes physical. Now a Panther

[PootieNunu]

2 hours ago, jumpgo69 said:

Browns fan (posted earlier about the Mayfield rumors a few weeks back).

A few thoughts from someone who watched Baker each week.

First let me say that I feel those that feel Baker is mediocre are wrong.  He is a good qb.  At times he showed he can be really good.  In fact, if you watch his games (even his 2 bad seasons) you will see that he plays well.  The one pattern he has shown so far is that he will motivate his team to play hard and he will also play hard.  He takes any slight and turns it up 1000% and uses that as motivation.  If your team is the underdog, he is motivated.  If media talked about him, he is motivated.  You can refer back to games against key opponents and see the level of his play went up vs when he played teams he was expected to beat.   

That said, he is not perfect (or the Browns would never have looked to possibly upgrade).  He will play well for 3 quarters of football.  Sometimes 2.  Its usually that 4th quarter, he seems to start taking unnecessary chances and usually it comes back to bite him.  Be it untimely int or a fumble because he refuses to give up on the play or getting overanxious and missing his target by quite a bit.    He has warts.

I am a big fan of his moxie.  I am also a big fan of the tools he has as a qb.  His biggest hurdle is absolutely mental.  It can be the hardest to overcome and often the qb killer.  This does not mean he cannot overcome the mental aspect.  It just is his biggest flaw so far that I have seen.  He can (and has) make all the throws.  He throws with good velocity and relatively low arc, which means he has a pretty darn good arm.  He doesnt always anticipate and so he throws "to" the receiver and not to the location the receiver will be when the ball lands if running full stride.  He isnt an anticipation thrower (like Tom Brady).  Defenses sometimes are able to fool him, especially on deeper routes.

Overall, considering the other qb options, I feel he is CLEARLY your best qb, at least if/until Corral is ready.  He is a drastic improvement over Darnold IMO.  He will make defenses respect all levels of the field due to his ability to throw with velocity.

Your team gave up about $5m and a 5th (possibly upgraded to a 4th) for a qb who is capable of keeping your team in games.  He hasnt shown (yet) the ability to carry a team (outside of the Cincy and Baltimore game in 2020), but he has the ability as those examples prove.

I know people will rip the Browns on the trade but closing the chapter is best for everyone.  Browns get some extra cap relief and Panthers get a low risk, high ceiling player at a premium position.  It softens the blow of the bad deal for Darnold (sorry).

Good luck guys.  That first game is going to be theatre!!

This, Baker is a lesser version of Tony Romo. We just had a Browns fan that has watched most of his games describe him as such.

Nothing wrong with what we gave up, I just dont think Baker can take us past 7-8 wins which scares me because that might mean Rhule can keep his job. 

[Mr. Scot]

10 hours ago, onmyown said:

Cam got humbled real quick going to FA realizing no one really wanted him. Which is still true today.

There's been word that the Seahawks were interested, but it is true nobody's signed him at this point.

Can't definitively say nobody else will, but as has been mentioned elsewhere it seems clear the Mayfield trade slams the door on any possibility of Newton returning to the Panthers.

[GRWatcher]

10 hours ago, Jackie Lee said:

Weird they haven't officially announced the signing but maybe waiting for a little presser or something

Yeah, Panthers official twitter has been very, very quiet only announcing the trade. Maybe out of respect for the Browns? I expected more hype, honestly.