2 Carolina Panthers who could benefit from Murphy’s release
By Dean Jones
The Carolina Panthers took the decision to release running back Marcus Murphy, which is good news for two players looking to make an impact in 2020.
It turned out Marcus Murphy’s stay with the Carolina Panthers did not last long. The running back was waived on Monday afternoon without getting the chance to prove his capabilities in training camp.
This type of thing happens all the time in the NFL. It is a ruthless business and although Murphy will feel aggrieved, this is the business he signed up for then he joined the Carolina Panthers.
Head coach Matt Rhule has already shown that he is not afraid to make big decisions that could benefit the franchise. Murphy’s departure from a running back room that isn’t really the deepest raises some questions are what the plans are for 2020 behind All-Pro star Christian McCaffrey.
The former first-round pick penned a new four-year deal worth just over $38 million guaranteed this offseason to officially become the face of the franchise. The Panthers will need a return on this investment for the duration of his contract. So someone else needs to pick up some of the load to avoid the risk of injury that is normally associated with running backs that get as many touches as McCaffrey.
There are a number of veteran players that could provide assistance in the short-term. But this avenue seems unlikely given the Panthers lack of salary cap space during next season.
This move to release Murphy might seem routine. However, it could also represent a supreme vote in confidence in two players who have the ability to contribute in 2020.