PANTHERS TRADE CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY TO THE 49ERS

NFL / Football

Written by Joel Lefevre

The San Francisco 49ers are getting much-needed help in their running game, by acquiring Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers.

Source (Background Photo): Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports | Harry How/Getty Images

In return, Carolina will receive a second, third and fourth-round selection from San Fran in next year’s draft and a fifth-rounder in 2024.

San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams were reportedly on the shortlist to add the 26-year-old with 393 yards on the ground to go along with 277 receiving yards and three touchdowns in six games this season.

As part of this trade, the 49ers have agreed to pay the running back less than $700,000 for the remainder of the season, before he has a cap hit of $12 million over the next two years.

Back in 2019, McCaffrey became the first 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver in the NFL since Marshall Faulk.

McCaffrey has dealt with his share of injuries in recent seasons, and his former team was reportedly fielding calls about him since February of this year.

The Niners are 3-3 on the season, while McCaffrey’s former team is 1-5 and at the bottom of the NFC South.

Over the past four seasons, Kyle Shanahan’s team has ranked in the top 15 for rushing attempts and rushing yards, though they have struggled offensively this year despite possessing weapons like George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.

Throughout this season though they are ranked 12th in team rushing, averaging only 4.4 yards per carry and 124 yards a game on the ground.

In April 2020 McCaffrey signed a four-year, $64 million deal with Carolina, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.