Panthers depth chart focus: Running back balance can thrive in 2022
By Dean Jones
D’Onta Foreman – Carolina Panthers RB
Christian McCaffrey will obviously remain the focal point. But it’s important for the Carolina Panthers to start looking at ways of keeping their best offensive weapon out of the firing line.
This can be done by using McCaffrey more in the passing game or restricting him to runs off the edge. Something the Panthers can now do convincingly after signing D’Onta Foreman early in the free agency period.
Foreman has been relatively overlooked since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2017. The former Texas star lasted just two seasons with the Houston Texans and was looking for employment right up until Derrick Henry went down for the Tennessee Titans, which ruled him out for the second half of the campaign.
The Titans knew what Foreman could offer after having him around in 2020. This familiarity with the scheme allowed the player to step in a make a valuable contribution en route to 689 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.
It did not go unnoticed by the Panthers, who snapped Foreman up quickly. This now gives them a player capable of giving McCaffrey some time off and doing damage in-between the tackles, which seems like a win-win for all parties involved.
Carolina recognized this need and made a positive move. One that gives them a better contingency plan if the worst happens to McCaffrey for a third-straight campaign.