The Carolina Panthers have reportedly opened contract talks with star running back Christian McCaffrey, but what is the player worth in the current market?
Running back Christian McCaffrey is the undisputed focal point of the Carolina Panthers’ offense and wants to be paid accordingly.
He is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is now after a multi-year extension that is going to make him a wealthy man. The Panthers have reportedly opened up discussions with the player and are keen on a long term commitment.
McCaffrey has been nothing short of a revelation since arriving in Carolina. He is the best three-down back in the NFL and has produced mind-blowing statistics over the last two seasons.
Although the Panthers struggled last season on their way to a 5-11 record, the same cannot be said of McCaffrey. The player became a threat to score every time he touched the football and this is a trend that is expected to continue long into the future.
There is nothing McCaffrey cannot do with the ball in his hands. He is a frightening proposition to cover and the last thing Carolina’s decision-makers will want is for the player to become disgruntled with his current contractual predicament.
A long-term extension does seem like a formality at this point due to the player becoming an indispensable member of the roster. But what is McCaffrey worth in today’s market?
McCaffrey’s career so far
The Carolina Panthers used the eighth overall pick to take Christian McCaffrey in the 2017 NFL Draft. This appears to be a steal given his production during his first three years in the NFL.
The running back was on the field for 70 percent of the team’s offensive snaps during his rookie season. He displayed his ability to be a threat on every down on his way to 435 rushing yards, 651 receiving yards, seven touchdowns, and an incredible 80 receptions.
If other teams were hoping for some regression from McCaffrey in 2018, they were out of luck. The former Stamford product took another leap forward in his sophomore campaign, recording 1,098 rushing yards, 861 receiving yards and 13 total touchdowns.
He played in 91 percent of the Panthers’ offensive snaps. But the player did record four fumbles in what was the only concerning element to his game in 2018.
McCaffrey was nothing short of sensational in 2019 and his elite production saw him in the conversation for Most Valuable Player. Given the Panthers’ 5-12 record, this was never going to transpire. But his 1,387 rushing yards, 1,005 receiving yards, 116 receptions, and 19 total touchdowns earned him a first-team All-Pro selection.
It was a historical campaign for the player, who seems to be just getting started.
McCaffrey’s contract situation
Someone with the sort of production that Christian McCaffrey has given the Carolina Panthers so far is entitled to want a raise. He has vastly outperformed his rookie contract and wants to be paid in accordance with his impact.
McCaffrey penned a four-year, fully guaranteed $17.24 million contract when entering the league. This included a $10.6 million signing bonus with an average annual salary of $4.31 million.
The running back is set to earn $2.81 million in base salary next season and count $5.48 million against the Panthers’ salary cap. This is a bargain price for someone that is a pivotal member of the roster.
McCaffrey will want some security heading into 2020. Having players worrying about their contract situation could have a detrimental effect on their overall production on the field.
This is something the Panthers need to avoid at all costs. There is little margin for error if they are to stand any chance of mounting a challenge in the NFC South next season and having their best player worrying about what a potential injury would do to his money is not something that would end well for the organization.
Giving McCaffrey a long-term commitment with a substantial raise that matches his influence will allow the player to focus on getting the team back to prominence during head coach Matt Rhule’s first season at the helm.
What will McCaffrey command?
There is no doubt that Christian McCaffrey is worthy of being the highest-paid running back in the NFL. He has three seasons of exceptional play under his belt and the Carolina Panthers will need to keep him around long-term to stand the best possible chance of turning the franchise around.
Ezekiel Elliott is the league’s biggest earner at the position after signing a $90 million contract with $50 million guaranteed in time for week one after holding out for a new deal during training camp. Le’Veon Bell ($13.1 million) is second on the list, with David Johnson, Derrick Henry, and Kenyan Drake rounding up the top five.
Two of those players are currently on the franchise tag, so their respective teams have yet to make a significant financial outlay on their future long term. McCaffrey has outplayed all the top stars and any new deal is likely to set the market going forward.
Spotrac expects the 23-year-old to command an $18 million annual salary on a six-year, $108 million deal. There has been a reluctance NFL-wide to pay running backs the top dollar in recent years. But the Panthers know how much McCaffrey means to the franchise and will not want to follow suit.
The decision-makers within the organization are going to need to work some salary-cap space in order to accommodate McCaffrey’s new deal. But the sacrifice will undoubtedly be worth it.
Is McCaffrey worth the money?
Although a running back is only one bad tackle away from a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Christian McCaffrey’s evasiveness and ability to make plays on almost every down make him extremely worthy of a long-term deal.
The Carolina Panthers are in a transitional period and it is imperative they keep their most prolific offensive weapon happy with a new deal. His importance to the franchise cannot be underestimated and it will give head coach Matt Rhule someone to build his offense around in the years to come.
McCaffrey’s extension will also have huge ramifications on new quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. The high-profile free agent acquisition will lean on him heavily during the early stages of his time with the organization.
The Panthers will need Bridgewater to thrive given their commitment to the player, who they opted for instead of former Most Valuable Player Cam Newtown.
If McCaffrey can keep up his extraordinary level of production over the next few years, then he is definitely worth the money. There is a real danger that so many touches during the campaign will eventually take its toll on the player. But he is a very strong character and seems to thrive with the extra responsibility.
It would be absolutely catastrophic if McCaffrey and the Panthers cannot agree terms and the franchise must do everything in their power to strike a deal.