A big-time trade went down last night as the tanking and rebuilding Carolina Panthers shipped off running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers. With McCaffrey off the market, running back needy teams may now have no choice but to call the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns should do some calling of their own, but the other team in the McCaffrey sweepstakes was the Los Angeles Rams. Cam Akers has not panned out and the team looks poised to move him. After missing out on McCaffrey, this wide-zone-oriented team should have Andrew Berry on speed dial.
The Browns are operating the best running game in the NFL, and that is largely due to the success of their offensive line despite injuries, and superstar back Nick Chubb. After his running mate Kareem Hunt requested a trade this summer, it may finally make sense to move both him and D’Ernest Johnson.