5 Panthers who should make the NFL Network’s Top 100

Carolina Panthers Player No. 1: Christian McCaffrey (RB)

One player who is sure to be extremely high on the NFL Network’s Top-100 list is Christian McCaffrey. The former first-round pick is the new face of the Carolina Panthers. And he is coming off a 2019 campaign that was nothing short of historic.

McCaffrey picked up the load in the absence of injured quarterback Cam Newton in no uncertain terms. He became only the third player in NFL history to secure 1,000-yards rushing and receiving in the same season. And if he continues to produce this level of form, then it will surely end up with an induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

This was enough for the Panthers who make him the NFL’s highest-paid running back with a four-year, $64 million deal that included a $21 million signing bonus and just over $38 million guaranteed. The deal is now the benchmark to what other players will aspire to. And it was a just reflection of the influence McCaffrey has had during an exceptional three-year stint in Carolina so far.

The potential to McCaffrey to get even better with new Panthers’ offensive coordinator Joe Brady is a mouth-watering proposition. While it is unrealistic for the player to get more than 400 combined touches once again, there is every chance he will continue to be a dynamic force who will be at the heart of everything good in Carolina.

It would be a huge shock if McCaffrey wasn’t a top-ten pick on the Network’s list. But much will come down to how they value the running back position.