5 last-ditch trades for the Panthers to consider before the 2021 deadline
By Dean Jones
Marlon Mack – RB
Not having Christian McCaffrey controlling the tempo on offense has been a real blow for the Carolina Panthers. No matter how talented the All-Pro running back is, he’s now missed 18 of the last 24 games and can no longer be relied upon to stay healthy.
It’s far from an ideal situation. Especially considering the lucrative contract McCaffrey signed before his injury problems began in 2020.
There’s been no real update on McCaffrey’s recovery since he was placed on the reserve/injured list with a hamstring complication. Rookie Chuba Hubbard has shown some promise, but it might be worth the Panthers bringing in a proven performer to assist for the remainder of the season.
According to a recent report, Carolina called up the Indianapolis Colts to see what it would take to acquire Marlon Mack. The veteran is playing second-fiddle behind rising star Jonathan Taylor and is keen for a fresh start somewhere to reignite his career.
This makes a ton of sense.
Asking Hubbard to carry the football more than 20 times as a first-year player isn’t exactly a recipe for success. Acquiring Mack would give the Panthers a short-yardage back that went over 1,000 rushing yards from just 12 starts in 2019.
Even if McCaffrey does return in the not-too-distant future, the Panthers cannot continue giving up almost 30 combined touches a game if they want solid production and reliability for the duration of his deal.