3 reasons Carolina Panthers should not trade Christian McCaffrey

Christian McCaffrey is an elite running back

It’s not often that a team can find an elite running back to lead them. While Cam Newton was out for the entire 2019 season, Christian McCaffrey used this opportunity to make a backup quarterback look good while also showing what he can really do.

McCaffrey finished the 2019 season with 1,387 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. He was the fourth-ranked in rushing yards, and second in rushing touchdowns. The player also finished with six games with more than 105 yards on the ground.

While running the ball may come easy to McCaffrey, he also showed that he could be an elite receiver out of the backfield, finishing the 2019 season with 1,005 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

He did not win any awards during this career-worthy season. But McCaffrey was one of few players ever to record more than 1,000 yards rushing and receiving yards in the same season. He also received the first Pro Bowl honor of his career and was deservedly named first-team All-Pro.

McCaffrey’s skill set is something that the Panthers will not be able to replace.

Mike Davis proved that he could handle snaps when McCaffrey was out, but he was not the same kind of superstar. The face of the franchise still put up good numbers during 2020 despite only playing in three games, finishing with 225 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 149 receiving yards, and one score through the air.

Furthermore, there are not many players who can do what McCaffrey’s able to do.

His ability to avoid defenders and fight for extra yardage is unmatched. The player is one of the only talents in the league that could play close to 100 percent of snaps and still gives the most effort on the field. McCaffrey’s versatility is also a weapon, as he can play receiver too.

The Panthers would be a more dangerous team if they paired McCaffrey with Watson in the backfield – which is another reason not to trade the player.