Well, that didn’t take long.
The Panthers appear to be throwing in the towel, with owner David Tepper ready to shake things all the way up. That facelift began Monday with Carolina pulling the plug on coach Matt Rhule, whose first NFL head-coaching assignment will not be remembered fondly (.289-win percentage). While the Panthers’ skill corps and defense are both well-stocked, it’s hard to see them being any kind of competitive, even in an up-for-grabs NFC South, until they get improved quarterback play from Baker Mayfield, who, through five games, looks every bit as overmatched as he did a year ago in Cleveland.
If the Panthers blow it all up, selling off assets in a blaze of glory, it wouldn’t hurt to gauge the market on Christian McCaffrey, one of the most dynamic weapons in football when healthy. The 26-year-old Pro Bowler has been a rare bright spot for the Panthers, contributing 512 yards from scrimmage (324 rushing, 188 receiving) with three touchdowns in the early going. One of only three players in NFL history to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season, McCaffrey has already been linked to Buffalo, where he would represent a significant upgrade over current starter Devin Singletary at running back.
Depending on what it would cost to get him, McCaffrey would make the Bills an immediate Super Bowl contender (if they weren’t already) while potentially taking some of the load off quarterback Josh Allen, who, along with throwing for a league-best 1,651 yards, also leads Buffalo in rushing, averaging a robust 6.4 yards per carry on the ground.
Given how poorly they age relative to other positions, trading for a running back will always require a leap of faith. The oft-injured McCaffrey carries more risk than most, missing 23 games over his last two seasons. That could be a useful bargaining tactic should the Bills be reluctant to spend too much draft capital on an expensive player who some would argue is past his prime.
The Bills went for it when they signed former Super Bowl MVP Von Miller to a mammoth six-year, $120-million contract this offseason. They’ve also been monitoring free agent Odell Beckham, who is trending toward a midseason return. Would McCaffrey, an explosive talent equally adept at pushing the pile as he is catching balls out of the backfield, put Buffalo over the top? That remains to be seen, but if the long-suffering Bills are truly all in, leaving no stone unturned in their quest to bring an elusive Lombardi Trophy to Western New York, poaching the best running back available wouldn’t hurt their chances.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram