4 major positives from Carolina Panthers trade for Baker Mayfield
By Luke Gray
Baker Mayfield could help Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey stay healthy
This move to acquire Baker Mayfield could help Christian McCaffrey stay healthy. Carolina Panthers fans haven’t seen much of the running back over the past two seasons, who’s appeared in just 10 games during that span due to various injury complications.
However, a lot of these injuries have been attributed to the large workload placed on McCaffrey, mainly due to previous inefficiencies from the Panthers’ offense. Matt Rhule has spoken about how Carolina wants to lighten the workload, and the offseason acquisition of D’Onta Foreman coupled with an improved offensive line could help facilitate this.
Should the Panthers become the downhill running team that Rhule wants and Mayfield performs up to or above expectations, then it will add the balance McCaffrey has craved.
The Cleveland Browns’ offense with Mayfield at the helm was headed by excellent running back play with Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb providing a one-two punch at the position. Something the Panthers will hope to replicate with Foreman and McCaffrey.
Having a quarterback in Mayfield who is not afraid to launch the deep ball and has the arm to do so could mean McCaffrey won’t be tasked with 30 combined touches a game any longer. This may go some way to keeping him fresh.