Carolina Panthers: Is McCaffrey’s deal good news for NFL running backs?

Does McCaffrey’s new deal help them?

Christian McCaffrey’s new deal with the Carolina Panthers could have huge ramifications for other players at the running back position who are seeking new contracts.

It gives them a benchmark to enter negotiations based on their production in relation to McCaffrey’s. And although they might not have the resume he possesses from a statistical perspective, they will argue ‘if he is getting paid, why can’t I?’.

This leaves NFL teams in a real predicament. There is the prospect of holdouts for any unhappy running backs who do not want to play into the final years of their deals. We saw this last summer with Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot before he signed a six-year, $90 million contract that included a $7.5 million signing bonus and $50 million guaranteed.

One would think there was relative dismay from NFL owners upon hearing of McCaffrey’s new deal. Running back is one of the most brutal positions on the field and this has been reflected with their unwillingness to part with valuable salary-cap space when the prospect of injury is considerably high.

This is just the way things are in the NFL in the present day. What McCaffrey’s extension has done is at least give those in a similar situation a realistic chance of getting their payday if their production warrants it.

The free-agent class of 2021 is stacked with running backs that were at the top of their game last season. Teams might now have no option other than to follow in the Carolina Panthers’ footsteps.