Adam Schefter reports that the Panthers are signing RB Christian McCaffrey to a four-year extension worth $16 million per year, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
According to Jeremy Fowler, McCaffrey’s deal will keep him under team control through 2025. The total value of the contract is expected to be around $75 million over six years, which includes the last two years of his rookie deal with the fifth-year option.
Here’s a statement from McCaffrey regarding his new deal:
“I’m so excited to continue my career in Carolina. I want to thank Mr. Tepper, Marty Hurney, and Coach Rhule for the opportunity to help lead this great franchise, and to all my teammates for their help along the way. And to Panthers fans, KEEP POUNDING!”
It was clear that McCaffrey was going to set a record with his next deal, given how productive he’s been since entering the NFL.
There was some speculation that the Panthers may consider making him available for trade to help facilitate the team’s rebuild under new HC Matt Rhule. However, it appears as that talk was overblown and Carolina is comfortable playing him a record salary to be core player for them moving forward.
McCaffrey, 23, is a former first-round pick of the Panthers back in 2017. He was entering the final year of his four-year, $17.224 million contract, but the Panthers had a fifth-year option they could have picked up on him for the 2021 season.
In 2019, McCaffrey appeared in all 16 games for the Panthers and rushed for 1,387 yards on 287 carries (4.8 YPC) to go along with 116 receptions for 1,005 yards receiving and 19 total touchdowns.
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