4 Carolina Panthers players leading a culture shift in 2021
By Dean Jones
Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers RB
It seems strange to tag Christian McCaffrey as a veteran at just 25 years old and with four NFL seasons under his belt. But he’s one of the team’s longest-serving players with everything that’s gone on of late and is the undisputed face of the franchise after deciding to release Cam Newton last year.
The Carolina Panthers recognized this by giving McCaffrey a four-year, $64 million deal with a $21 million signing bonus and $38 million guaranteed last summer. Things didn’t exactly go to plan during the previous campaign, but the All-Pro appears fully healthy and ready to stamp his authority on things once again.
Not having McCaffrey for anything more than three games was a real blow for the Panthers. The team lost eight games by one score in 2020 and had the former Stanford star been available, it could have shifted the landscape of their fortunes.
What’s vital for the Panthers is keeping McCaffrey fit and firing.
They know he’s going to lead by example and progress their culture shift with outstanding production. But taking some of the load off their star player would be the best route to go down at this juncture.
Next. 4 things Panthers fans can look forward to during the 2021 offseason. dark
Drafting Chuba Hubbard was a possible indicator Carolina is going to try and maximize McCaffrey’s output with fewer carries next season. One thing is certain, their chances of securing a winning record for the first time since 2017 depend on it.