6 Carolina Panthers players whose stock is way up in 2020
By Dean Jones
Mike Davis – Carolina Panthers RB
Mike Davis has been on quite a journey this season.
The running back was a prime candidate for release prior to training camp thanks to his $3 million in base salary. But he overcame this complication to emerge from a veteran whose job was on the line to a competent starter that is sure to get either an extension from the Carolina Panthers or more money elsewhere.
Not having Christian McCaffrey in the backfield has damaged the Panthers. He is an elite dual-threat who was coming off a historic 2019 campaign. But the offense would have looked far different had Davis not come in and performed to a high level.
If this season has taught Carolina anything, it’s that they need a primary backup to McCaffrey who can slot in and work with almost the same playbook. Davis fits this category perfectly, but his stock has risen to such an extent that an increased role elsewhere in free agency isn’t out of the realms of possibility.
This is a chance that Davis would jump at and the Panthers would not begrudge him the opportunity. The South Carolina product is just 74 yards away from reaching 1,000 all-purpose yards this season and also has seven touchdowns to his name, which is sure to make him a hot commodity on the free-agent market next year.