Carolina Panthers: McCaffrey right to defend running back importance

Is McCaffrey right to defend running backs?

No good NFL team through history has ever achieved success without a strong running game. One could argue the Kansas City Chiefs did this in 2019. But Damien Williams did come up with some big plays when it mattered most despite Patrick Mahomes and the passing attack shouldering most of the responsibility.

The Carolina Panthers rely more than most on the position so giving Christian McCaffrey a bumper deal was a no-brainer. The decision might be a little more difficult for other teams with a more balanced offense.

Running back is one of the most injury-prone positions in the NFL thanks to the constant barrage of physical activity on almost every run. McCaffrey himself suffered his fair share of knocks in college. Thankfully for the Panthers, this is not something that has made a transition to the NFL.

McCaffrey might be more than just a running back. But the trend surrounding the position recently indicates that teams are willing to let talented players play through their rookie deals, use the franchise tag on them, and then move on either via trade or in free agency.

The NFL is a bottom-line business and the simple fact is with the way the game has changed, owners perceive running back to be low on their list of priorities unless you are in the truly elite category, and even then it might not be enough to get you a deal.

The likes of Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamara, Kenyan Drake, and Dalvin Cook are all still waiting to be paid. It remains to be seen whether their respective teams will be willing to part with a large portion of their salary cap to get a deal done.

McCaffrey is right to go to bat for them after getting his deserved extension. But it is unlikely that his comments will sway a franchise into changing their minds.