2021 NFL Draft: The RB drawing Christian McCaffrey comparisons

Memphis standout Kenny Gainwell is drawing comparisons to Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.

The Carolina Panthers have their star running back in Christian McCaffrey. But there is an NFL Draft prospect coming out in 2021 that has drawn significant comparisons to the All-Pro.

Having a dual-threat back such as McCaffrey has been a welcome need for the Carolina Panthers. Although they have largely struggled in recent years. Their first-round selection out of Stanford has thrived during his first three years with the franchise.

This resulted in the Panthers giving McCaffrey a four-year, $64 million extension this offseason. And it was a huge statement of confidence given the relative lack of interest in giving running backs the sort of money their production commands.

The NFL is always looking for the next big playmaker coming out of college. This is especially evident at the running back spot, where there is always a high turnover of starters across the league.

There might be a player of significant interest in the form of Kenny Gainwell. The talented back has been a revelation during his time with Memphis. And it is not hard to see why he has drawn similarities with McCaffrey.

Despite being just 5-foot-11, Gainwell is a game-changing threat every time he touches the ball. He burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman in 2019 on his way to 1,459 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. This also included a lofty yards-per-carry average of 6.3 to further enhance his overall influence.

Gainwell managed to emerge as a significant threat in the passing game. He collected 51 receptions, 610 yards, and three touchdowns during a 2019 campaign that was filled with plenty of memorable highlights.

How does Kenny Gainwell compare to Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey?

It’s not hard to see why Kenny Gainwell is being compared to Christian McCaffrey. The new face of the Carolina Panthers is renowned for impacting the game in running or passing downs. And the Memphis back has all the same traits heading into a pivotal campaign.

Gainwell’s slender build means he is going to need plenty of time in the weight room before he enters the NFL. That being said, his elusiveness is one of the prospect’s standout elements of his game. And adding more muscle has the potential to have a detrimental impact.

The player comes into the season with a late first or early second-round potential. If Gainwell takes another step forward in 2020 then it would be a huge shock if his name wasn’t one of the first 32 called next spring.

Whether this puts Gainwell on the Panthers’ radar is another matter. Reggie Bonnafon showed promise as the No. 2 option behind McCaffrey in 2019. And there is real hope he can continue to trend on an upward curve going forward.

They also have plenty of more pressing needs with their first few selections next year. The organization made a good start to rebuilding this offseason. But much more will be needed if they want to become a contender in the future.

Gainwell’s skillset is currently all the rage in the NFL. So if he builds on an immensely productive 2019 then it is going to come with significant rewards.

Comparing anyone to McCaffrey comes with its own additional pressure. But Gainwell has a better chance than most of living up to expectations.