3 ways the Panthers can help Christian McCaffrey in 2021
By Dean Jones
Make the most of Chuba Hubbard
With Mike Davis no longer with the Carolina Panthers after signing for the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, there was a real need to find a primary backup to Christian McCaffrey who could shoulder some of the load long-term. They opted not to bring a prominent veteran to the organization in free agency, but fans did not have to wait long during the 2021 NFL Draft for another potentially solid option to call upon.
The Panthers selected Chuba Hubbard in the fourth round, with the rookie no stranger to Matt Rhule who saw first-hand what the player could do after he torched Baylor during his time at Oklahoma State that did not go unnoticed by the head coach.
Hubbard should come in and make an immediate impact. He is a strong runner who is elusive enough to make things happen in open space, so there is an opportunity for Carolina to give him some worthwhile touches during his rookie campaign providing his adjustment to the pro ranks is a smooth one.
This should assist McCaffrey greatly.
There is absolutely no way Hubbard is going to move atop the depth chart at any stage. So if the Panthers can integrate him immediately and take at least some of the load off, it could improve McCaffrey’s longevity in the process.
Simply put, this is a win-win for all parties involved.
Having more than one back who can produce quality numbers is becoming more prevalent with every successful team across the league. And Hubbard has a tremendous amount of potential that could assist from the outset.