Baker Mayfield has a new weapon.
The Panthers have traded for Jaguars receiver Laviska Shenault, Carolina announced. Jacksonville will receive undisclosed draft compensation.
The 6-foot-1, 227-pound Shenault bolsters the Panthers receiving room, joining DJ Moore, Robbie Anderson, Terrance Marshall and Rashard Higgins. One of the more intriguing prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft after flashing game-changing potential at Colorado, Shenault was selected with the 10th pick in the second round by Jacksonville.
The speedster struggled to establish himself in the NFL, however, recording 600 and 619 receiving yards his first two seasons, respectively, in the league. Shenault, 23, failed to find the end zone last year after recording five touchdowns as a rookie.
Laviska Shenault has struggled since being drafted in the second round. USA TODAY SportsStill, he possesses speed capable of opening up defenses, and perhaps a better quarterback situation and offensive system can truly tap into his skillset. Shenault struggled through a rookie season with Gardner Minshew as his signal-caller, and last year likely was a victim of Trevor Lawrence’s rookie learning curve. Around him, Shenault faced one of the most calamitous environments in the league created by the team’s former coach, Urban Meyer.
After his fallout in Cleveland — prompted by the team’s decision to trade for, and then grant a massive extension to, Deshaun Watson — Mayfield arrived in Carolina in exchange for 2024 conditional pick.
Mayfield won the starting job over incumbent Sam Darnold, which was further solidified after Darnold suffered a “significant” ankle injury in the team’s final preseason game that will reportedly keep him sidelined for four-to-six weeks.
Baker Mayfield enters his first season as the Panthers starting quarterback. APMayfield enters a decisive season in his career on the final year of his contract, needing to prove he’s capable of being a quality starter in the league ahead of free agency. Now, he gets another weapon at his disposal, also in need of proving something himself.






