The Carolina Panthers are rebuilding their roster, and trading Christian McCaffrey would be the best way to overhaul things quickly.
Trading Christian McCaffrey is a very difficult decision. Yet it might be the correct one.
McCaffrey, 23, is the league’s best running back and the Carolina Panthers’ best player following the retirement of linebacker Luke Kuechly. He earned All-Pro honors in 2019 after amassing 2,392 scrimmage yards, a top-five all-time total. He’s phenomenal.
Still, the Panthers are in dire need of pieces on both sides of the ball.
They have a new coach in Matt Rhule, signed to a seven-year deal. Rhule has time to mold this organization into a winner. This isn’t going to turn around in an hour.
Moving McCaffrey at his peak value would certainly net a first-round pick and then some. Such ammunition could either help the Panthers move up for a quarterback to replace Cam Newton, or simply to give general manager Marty Hurney more choices in the top rounds of a loaded class.
Rhule undoubtedly understands this, which is why he didn’t completely shut the door on a trade, either.
Losing McCaffrey would be a crushing blow in some respects, and that must be acknowledged. The Panthers already said goodbye to Kuechly and tight end Greg Olsen. There’s a real chance their farewell to Newton is coming shortly as well. Trading away McCaffrey would anger an already reeling fanbase, but it’s still the right decision in the longview of things.
Carolina needs draft picks and options. Dealing away McCaffrey provides both in ample supply.
Another factor to consider is McCaffrey’s contract. He’s an incredible steal currently, owed $5.5 million in 2021 before his fifth-year option in 2022. However, McCaffrey is now eligible for a mega-deal. The Panthers can refuse to negotiate until after the ’22 campaign and ride this out — maybe even with a franchise tag or two — but that’ll only anger the player. It’s great way to sour the relationship.
If Carolina decided against trading McCaffrey and using him as its offensive centerpiece for the next five years, that’s absolutely justified. Yet at the running back position, believing McCaffrey will remain anywhere close to this good, for that long, is a major gamble.