3 ambitious goals for Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey in 2020
By Dean Jones
Running back Christian McCaffrey is the new face of the Carolina Panthers, but what are some ambitious goals for the player in 2020?
Expectations could not be higher for Christian McCaffrey in 2020. The Carolina Panthers made him their new face of the franchise this offseason. And he is coming off a historic campaign that will live through the ages.
McCaffrey became only the third player in NFL history to secure more than 1,000-yards rushing and receiving in the same season. This did not do much for the Carolina Panthers in terms of securing a winning campaign. But it is hard to envisage what their final record would have been without their All-Pro.
The Panthers bucked a leaguewide trend by paying their star running back the money he deserved this spring. McCaffrey got a four-year, $64 million extension with a $21 million signing bonus and $38 million guaranteed. And this was met by envious glances from others at the position who are looking for a salary in keeping with their production.
The former first-round pick carried so much of the load in 2019 that it left one wondering just how McCaffrey didn’t get injured at any stage. He accumulated more than 400 combined touches on an offense that was lacking any real consistency under center. But this is something that might change next time around thanks to the signing of Teddy Bridgewater.
Carolina now has an embarrassment of riches on offense and a progressive coordinator calling the shots in Joe Brady. Everything good will still go through McCaffrey. But having the likes, of D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and Curtis Samuel is sure to take some of the pressure off.
This can only be a good thing going forward. Running backs tend to wear down quicker than most other positions thanks to its violent nature. And keeping McCaffrey fresh for the duration of his contract is the smart move.
There is little doubt McCaffrey can still be equally as productive if his touches come down. And here are three ambitious goals for the Stanford product in 2020.