It could have ended on a much better note, but Christian McCaffrey’s time with the Carolina Panthers is over.
McCaffrey was traded late Thursday night to the San Francisco 49ers for four future draft picks. The Panthers didn’t get the first-round pick they desired but received a 2023 second, third, fourth, and a 2024 fifth-round pick in return.
When Carolina fired Matt Rhule, most would assume the franchise was heading toward a rebuild. McCaffrey’s trade confirms that notion.
I’m forever grateful for all of the people who have helped make these past 5 1/2 years so special for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Carolina, I will always love you
#KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/0rBS8Ajhgy
— Christian McCaffrey (@CMC_22) October 21, 2022
There’s no other way to put it; trading CMC is heartbreaking. The Panthers didn’t just lose a playmaker and one of the most versatile running backs in the league. They lost a leader and a player that has been the heart and soul of the team for the past four years.
At the moment, Panthers fans are divided on the compensation paid by the 49ers. Some think it should’ve cost more; some think it’s good enough.
Regardless of your stance, keeping McCaffrey on the roster any longer wouldn’t have made sense. The relationship had run its course but watching him run loose around the field was fun while it lasted.
McCaffrey Gave Carolina Plenty of Joyful Memories
Christian McCaffrey started his career splitting carries with Jonathan Stewart during his rookie season. Once he took over as the full-time starter, though, he looked worthy of being the eighth-overall pick with a lot of upside. The Stanford product came in and rejuvenated the offense with his flashy, dual-threat ability.
Christian McCaffrey with the one handed snag (via @nfl) #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/n1HhjzFBNH
— Fanatics View (@fanaticsview) October 22, 2017
This was just the seventh game of his career. Later that same season, the Panthers made the playoffs and McCaffrey scored a touchdown off a 56-yard catch and run that got his team back in the game and in a position to potentially win.
That was when Carolina knew they had a special running back on offense. The following two years were filled with some of the most electrifying performances in the post-Cam Newton era.
During the 2018-19 seasons, McCaffrey went for 4,357 yards and 32 total touchdowns. He found his way to the end zone by any means necessary, whether it meant going through, around, or over defenders.
In a few years, when people look back at McCaffrey’s time in Carolina, these are the plays that will stick out along with the dozens of similar highlight-reel runs.
Of course, he couldn’t stay healthy and missed much of the next two years — 23 total games — due to a pair of untimely injuries. In those seasons, the Panthers won only six games in the absence of their electrifying running back, which speaks to his value on the team. Carolina could have won a ton of games, but it would’ve been a one-man show, as the talent around CMC simply wasn’t good enough.
When McCaffrey broke a long run or maneuvered his way to the end zone, and the “Keep Pounding” chants echoed throughout the stadium, it was one of the most lively atmospheres in the NFL.
Those blissful moments are just a memory now of what was and what could have been.
What is McCaffrey’s Legacy in Carolina?
McCaffrey’s 2019 season will always be remembered fondly, as he became one of three running backs in NFL history, joining Marshall Faulk and Roger Craig, to go for over 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a single campaign.
He brought life into the stadium during a time when there wasn’t much to get excited about. Most, if not all, of the Panthers legends from the recent years were gone, but McCaffrey came in and immediately cemented himself as a fan favorite.
The star running back gave the Panthers everything he had and more. Even in the worst seasons, he was the reason people came out in droves to watch the team on Sundays. He was flat-out dominant. The Panthers haven’t had a non-quarterback strike as much fear in a defense since Steve Smith Sr.
He was nearly unstoppable in both passing and rushing situations. He earned back-to-back All-Pro selections and was the first Panthers running back to be named a first-team All-Pro.
When things went awry, McCaffrey could’ve held out and requested a trade like many other elite players around the league have done. But he didn’t. He stuck through it and was willing to make the most of the situation.
Even during the last two years, when he only appeared in 10 games, the Stanford product never wavered when it came to playing or his passion. If he could suit up and give it his all, he did, and that is how he’ll be remembered in Carolina.
It was the right time for the Carolina Panthers to move on
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It would’ve been nice if McCaffrey stayed and was the face of the franchise who help lift Carolina from mediocre back to contention. But by the time that happened, his contract would probably be up. Now, he gets to play for an organization that’s putting all its chips on the table, and that’s just not the path the Panthers are on right now.
Carolina hasn’t been to the postseason since 2017, McCaffrey’s rookie season, and likely won’t be back for quite some time. Since their last playoff appearance, they’re just 23-48 (.324), the fourth-worst record in the NFL.
McCaffrey turned 26 in June, and the lifespan of running backs is shorter than any other position in the NFL. This trade to the 49ers gives him an opportunity to go win a championship that wouldn’t be possible in Carolina for the next couple of years. He is going to thrive in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
It’s OK to be both happy and sad to see him go. It’s truthfully a win-win move for both teams. It’s a business at the end of the day, but it’s a shame that the Panthers let another elite talent get away after squandering so many opportunities to build a complete, well-rounded roster.
The Panthers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, and there will be plenty of No. 22 jerseys being worn around Bank of America Stadium on Sunday and for many years to come because of the impact he had and the memories he gave to the local community.
A trade, no matter how painful it might be, can’t erase those.
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