Early in the fallout from Matt Rhule‘s firing, reports emerged pointing the Panthers to a potential firesale. A day later, a Carolina potential trade-block flood seems less likely.
The Panthers are not actively shopping Christian McCaffrey, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe (subscription required). Multiple reports indicated the former All-Pro running back would be a name to monitor ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline, and while Tuesday’s latest does not slam the door on McCaffrey being moved, Howe notes the team wants to build around its young core rather than dismantle it.
This does not mean interest has not come in. Teams have inquired about wideout D.J. Moore and edge rusher Brian Burns, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer. The Panthers have not shown a willingness to part with either starter, Breer adds, but these two names have generated the most interest thus far.
Additionally, the Bills have not contacted the Panthers regarding McCaffrey’s availability, Howe notes. Run by ex-Carolina staffers Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott, Buffalo has acquired many former Panthers. But a move to land the $16MM-per-year back, months after drafting James Cook in the second round, may be a bridge too far for now.
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Carolina just extended Moore — on a three-year, $61.88MM deal — and have expressed a desire to pay Burns, who will enter his fifth-year option season in 2023. Both players were acquired before Rhule arrived, even though the since-fired HC signed off on Moore’s extension this March. Although Carolina’s quarterback issues have restrained its passing attack, Moore, 25, has continued to produce. He topped 1,100 receiving yards in each season from 2019-21. This year, however, the former first-round pick’s stats are down (197 yards through five games). Burns, 24, has four sacks and six QB hits. He will be on track to become one of the league’s highest-paid edge defenders come 2023, and it looks like the Panthers want to be the team authorizing that contract.
Neither interim HC Steve Wilks nor new Panthers defensive play-caller Al Holcomb were in place when either player was drafted. Ditto GM Scott Fitterer. But it would still surprise to see Carolina deal away two mid-20s cornerstones this season. Doing so would indeed signal David Tepper signing off on a full-scale rebuild.
McCaffrey is currently healthy, marking his longest run of availability during the 2020s. Injuries sidetracked the former top-10 pick’s career following his dominant 2019 season — one that set him up for the still-market-topping extension he signed in April 2020 — but the sixth-year back obviously remains one of the Panthers’ best players. McCaffrey, 26, is not on his 2019 pace (2,392 yards from scrimmage), posting only 512 scrimmage yards in five games. But his health has certainly brought better news compared to his previous two seasons — when the second-generation pro missed 23 games.
The team restructured McCaffrey’s deal, reducing his 2022 base salary to barely $1MM, and listened to trade inquiries this offseason. Given McCaffrey’s health history, the team’s willingness to do a deal and the kind of offers that come in will be interesting as the deadline nears. For now, however, the Panthers are sitting tight with CMC. Three more seasons remain on McCaffrey’s contract. His salaries spike to $11.8MM (in 2023 and ’24) and $12MM (2025).
Washington South, i.e., they think their team is better than it really is, thus they make decisions like they are re-tooling rather than re-building.
A playoff team should offer 1st 2nd and next years 3 for burns and see if they bite
He will be dealt. Saying he won’t always kiss if death. If they don’t try to load up on picks then management needs to be gone also.
Dumb. Should trade everything and anything.
McCaffery
Burns
Brown
Moore
Anderson
Jackson
Anderson
Trade it all. Tear it down. Rebuild through draft.
Franchise need a reset. Decent crop of QBs coming out so might as well have some extra draft picks to go along with your new franchise qb.
I agree. Probably select one of brown or burns to keep and pay.
But they should def look into at least trading CMC, Anderson and Moore. That should recoup them a few day 2 picks at least.
Their whole core is either on their second contract already or about to be on the fifth year option lol. Yeah trade them all yall not gonna be competitive for the next 5 years at least
HaaaaaaHaha! Whatever!
David Tepper’s getting his strategy from the “Limited Edition” guy from The Simpsons apparently.
He’ll be trading, just wait until they’re around 4-12 and injuries start mounting up.
Dangle them and trade them if you actually get some good offers. This team is going to get a top 4 pick the way things are going now.
If teams were reluctant to take on a hefty contract of a frequently injured QB like Jimmy G, wouldn’t they be even more reluctant to take on the contract of a frequently injured RB like Mac?
They really should look into trading CMC. While he is an elite back he hasn’t played a full season since 2019, only appearing in 15 games since. If you could find a desperate GM who would overpay drastically that’s exactly what the panthers need. Nobody should be untouchable for the right price
If they don’t want to trade pieces. I am asking to be traded from that dumpster fire