It’s been an eventful offseason for the Panthers to say the least. A new coach has been hired and turned over most of the staff, a former MVP quarterback was released and replaced, a future Hall of Fame linebacker retired, a beloved veteran tight end was shown the door and a dozen defensive free agents have been allowed to leave and sign with other teams.
Carolina fans might be feeling a bit punch-drunk after all that and anxious about more changes. Some may be bracing for the team to trade superstar running back Christian McCaffrey, as Pro Football Focus and others have suggested. While it makes sense on some level to cash in now while McCaffrey’s value is peaking, it would also rob the team of their most dynamic playmaker.
For what it’s worth, Matt Rhule says McCaffrey is a player you can build a team around. Here’s what Rhule told reporters in a Zoom call on Wednesday, per Alaina Getzenberg at the Charlotte Observer.
“My job is to coach the guys up until they’re here or not here. This is for anybody. Marty, those guys handle the contracts and all that. I think Christian McCaffrey is a centerpiece player you can build a team around … And I think he really builds for the culture that you want to have within the building. . . We want to be a serious football place, we want to be a place that it’s all about the game, and I think that’s who Christian McCaffrey is.”
Building around a running back might not sound like a great idea given what we know about modern roster construction and analytics. However, McCaffrey is much more than just your average running back. In addition to being the best at his position in the league, his abilities as a receiver and a returner make him a unique weapon.
Keeping him around will not come cheap, though. McCaffrey is entering the last year of his rookie contract. Giving him an extension will likely cost more than the deal Ezekiel Elliott just agreed to with the Cowboys, which included $50 million guaranteed.
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