By: Levi MaVorhis
When you are a fan of a professional sports franchise, there are few worse places to be stuck than mediocrity. Unfortunately that is where the Carolina Panthers find themselves at this moment. At 5-11 last year, and a new Quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater, there are some bright spots on the Panthers roster. However, although Bridgewater is a more than competent QB and a proven winner, it takes a special talent to take a team from 5-11 to a playoff contender.
However, lets assume Bridgewater is a good sign. This still does not address the glaring weakness which was the Panthers D. Carolina allowed 470 points last year (second worst in the NFL), and once you subtract a once in a generation talent like Luke Kuechly, the arrow looks to be trending down.
The Panthers have made a small effort to bolster their defense with the acquisitions of Stephen Weatherly (DE), Juston Burris (Safety), and the re-signing of Tre Boston (Safety). However, these moves are not going to make the difference that Carolina needs.
This leads me to why signing a running back to a long-term deal is very rarely a smart idea. We can all agree that McCaffrey is one of, if not the best running back in the game. He does it all, having over 2,500 yards rushing and receiving in his first three years in the league. However, his biggest strength could be considered a negative when looking at the long-term. The Panthers abuse McCaffrey, he averaged 25.12 touches a game last year, essentially carrying Carolina's offense.
So the question has to be raised, how long can this continue? When Todd Gurley signed his extension it seemed like a no-brainer. He was a stud, on a team that was poised to win a Super Bowl. Fast-forward two years, and Gurley is not nearly what he was. Still a capable back, but not the franchise player he was expected to be. In fact of the top 10 highest paid running backs in the league, only three (Jerick McKinnon SF, Duke Johnson HOU, Lamar Miller HOU) were on teams that made it to the playoffs.
There is a reason why teams like the Patriots never sign running backs to massive deals, because there are far better ways to spend the money you would otherwise give to a "franchise" running back.
McCaffrey's stock will never be higher than it is right now. Which is why the Panthers should have looked to trade for draft picks, to address defensive and offensive line needs. Once you have these needs solidified, then you can worry about a franchise running back like McCaffrey.
Comments