Kenneth Gainwell could be the perfect backup for Christian McCaffrey
By Dean Jones
Could NFL Draft prospect Kenneth Gainwell become the perfect backup to Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey?
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Carolina Panthers need a contingency plan at running back after what transpired with Christian McCaffrey in 2020. The All-Pro hadn’t missed a single game during his first three years in the league. But no sooner had the former first-round pick signed a four-year, $64 million deal that included a $21 million signing bonus and $38 million guaranteed, he managed just three games last season thanks to shoulder, ankle, and quad problems.
Not exactly what the doctor ordered. But the Panthers did get some nice production from Mike Davis, which was enough for the veteran to seal a move to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency on a two-year, $5.5 million deal that came with $3 million in guaranteed money and a $1.5 million signing bonus.
Replacing him is going to pivotal for Carolina’s chances in the event McCaffrey is forced to miss any more time in the coming years. The Stanford product looks back to his old self if his recent workout videos are any indication, but the Panthers would be wise to tread carefully with their face of the franchise moving forward.
Carolina does have Rodney Smith, Trenton Cannon, Reggie Bonnafon, and free-agent signing Darius Clark to call upon. But finding a talented, energetic prospect via the 2021 NFL Draft might be worth exploring to further bolster their options.
One such individual has drawn comparisons to McCaffrey at the college level and represents an enticing option depending on how the draft plays out. Kenneth Gainwell broke out for Memphis in 2019 after a sensational campaign, which has seen his stock soar as a result.
Gainwell is a scary proposition to stop both in the run game and also catching passes out of the backfield. At least on the face of things, the prospect looks tailor-made for the Panthers.