Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, which was the correct call to make all things considered.
What a tumultuous two-week span the Carolina Panthers have had.
From the firing of former head coach Matt Rhule after a 1-4 start to Robbie Anderson’s sideline explosion on the sidelines and eventual trade to the Arizona Cardinals, fans could sense the franchise was about to embark on some landmark changes.
Ever since David Tepper’s move to replace Rhule, numerous players on the team had been linked to potential trades around the NFL. One of the most common names in the national media was Christian McCaffrey.
Drafted in the first round in 2017, McCaffrey has been one of the more elusive, productive, and exciting offensive weapons to don the black and blue. Unfortunately, after signing a four-year, $64 million contract, various injuries have kept the All-Pro on the sideline for 23 of 33 games throughout the last two seasons before the current campaign.
Finally healthy, McCaffrey has been a one-man offensive show in 2022. Even if Carolina’s offense has been the league’s worst in multiple key categories under beleaguered coordinator Ben McAdoo.
During Thursday Night Football, general manager Scott Fitterer traded McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2023 second, third, and fourth-round picks, and a 2024 fifth-rounder. This lands the running back on a contending team and leaves the Panthers without their most productive playmaker.
Despite this, here are three reasons why this was the right move for Carolina.
Carolina Panthers are hitting the reset button
With the recent firing of Matt Rhule less than three seasons into a seven-year contract and the trade of wide receiver Robbie Anderson following a sideline outburst at the Los Angeles Rams, it’s clear that the Carolina Panthers were hitting the reset button.
Off to a 1-5 start during the 2022 campaign, Christian McCaffrey has accounted for more than 40 percent of all offensive yards. Despite improvements on the offensive line, the tight end group garners no respect in the passing game, and the receiving corps only has one true starting-worthy athlete.
With poor quarterback play that is hampering an already inept offense and an offensive coordinator who is not adjusting his play calling to fit the roster, McCaffrey was being run into the ground. At only 26 years old, the player is in his prime and unable to contribute anything more to muster a win.
The Panthers are now going five years without sniffing the playoffs. Leaving team owner David Tepper and company with no option other than to start parting ways with big contracts for draft selections in 2023 and beyond.
Just like in business, the team is trading a current talent for future assets. With few picks in the 2023 draft from former trades, dealing McCaffery to the San Francisco 49ers brought back high picks that will play on rookie contracts.
Yes, players will still go out every Sunday and do what they can to win. But they will continue to be overmatched and the march toward the top overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft seems to have a clear path.
Carolina has a young core to build around which will be paired with a new, rookie quarterback next season and other needs.
Carolina Panthers maximized trade value
Christian McCaffrey played in 48 out of 48 games during his first three seasons. Something that also included a historic 2019 campaign that saw the league’s best dual-threat weapon attain more than 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in the same season.
The former first-round selection is an every-down back who is a threat to break a long run, turn a short screen pass into a 20-yard gain, or score a touchdown on any given possession.
Sadly, the last two seasons have been filled with a variety of soft tissue injuries keeping McCaffrey in street clothes for almost 70 percent of games. After a switch in his training regimen and diet, he is finally back at full health and firing on all cylinders through six weeks of 2022.
Opposing teams who feel they may be one piece away from contending and need that star running back as the missing puzzle piece could use his services. Knowing the Carolina Panthers need cap space and future draft picks, his trade value could not be any higher and general manager Scott Fitterer extracted good value by pitting the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams against one another during negotiations.
McCaffrey’s stats this season are reminiscent of his pre-injury days and his game tape is still impressive. Fitterer was wise to trade him now with his value high as it ever will be, moving forward to obtain the most assets moving forward.
Carolina Panthers need to build around a rookie QB
The Carolina Panthers quarterback position earned much attention this past offseason after drafting Matt Corral out of Ole Miss and bringing Baker Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns. Sadly, this has not had the desired effect and the organization is now facing the prospect of starting from scratch yet again.
Corral suffered a Linsfranc injury and is out for the year. Sam Darnold is just returning from injured/reserve with a high ankle sprain, and Mayfield is nursing ligament damage in his ankle, leaving P.J. Walker as the starter right now.
With a lack of consistency and rapport with the wide receiving corps, Mayfield, Darnold, and Walker are not the long-term answer. Corral is still unknown, but he might not get the opportunity to ever push for a starting spot.
By trading Christian McCaffrey, the Panthers boosted their chances of finishing with the NFL’s worst record, which will provide them with the top overall pick in the 2023 draft.
There is a slew of talented quarterbacks available next April. Carolina can select one to mold into an All-Pro-worthy starter and face of the franchise.
Having a top-tier quarterback on a rookie contract is one of the best ways to build a solid team with the ability to compete in the playoffs. McCaffrey’s trade gives them a chance to put the right pieces around someone like Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud.
There will be some short-term pain. But in the long run, this will prove to be a wise move if the Panthers can hit on a few of these top draft picks.