Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers RB
Things looked incredibly promising for the Carolina Panthers during the early stages of last season. The defense looked electrifying and the return of Christian McCaffrey gave the offensive side of things a sense of purpose that had been sorely lacking without the All-Pro in 2020.
Sadly, this did not last.
McCaffrey played just seven games and the offense went to pieces without him. Further proof of just how reliant the Panthers are on the dual-threat and the extreme lack of any contingency plan in case he went down once again.
The former first-round pick has sought the counsel of Marshall Faulk this offseason in a bid to avoid further complications. There will also be pressure on the coaching staff to come up with a better plan to keep their best offensive weapon on the field.
Hopefully, lessons will have been taken on board.
But there is just no telling for sure how things will go if McCaffrey spends more time on the sidelines next season.
McCaffrey is not only an elite performer. His mere presence in the backfield also makes life easier for everyone else.
Not having this during a 2022 season of critical importance would be a catastrophe and would raise serious questions about the player’s future in Carolina.