The Carolina Panthers are in the midst of a significant rebuild this offseason. Regardless, it appears the long-term future of running back Christian McCaffrey remains a top priority.
According to David Newton of ESPN.com, general manager Marty Hurney indicated that a new deal is currently in the works:
“Obviously, we’ve had internal discussions,” Hurney said. “Everybody knows what we think of Christian as a player. Other than that I can’t really say any more.”
The front office still has some time to get a deal done by opting to exercise his fifth-year option through the 2021 NFL season, and they also have the option of a franchise tag. Although Hurney's update was coy, the efforts they are putting in now is telling of where they stand regarding McCaffrey's future in Carolina.
It is no secret that lucrative running back contracts have been a topic of debate regarding whether or not teams are getting much bang for their buck. This was evidenced by the Los Angeles Rams' decision to part ways with running back Todd Gurley this offseason. Investing cap space in a position that has been deemed as expendable by many is hardly ideal for their current rebuild.
Fortunately, there is good reason to believe that McCaffrey can fit the billing. After all, he has established himself as one of the NFL's elite running backs while serving as the focal point of the Panthers offense. His versatility as both a runner and a pass-catcher out of the backfield has helped him rack up back-to-back All-Pro honors.
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