Gold rush: Christian McCaffrey traded to 49ers
Christian McCaffrey is heading back to the Bay Area.
Per Adam Schefter, the Carolina Panthers agreed to trade their former All-Pro running back to the San Francisco 49ers. He played his college ball at nearby Stanford.
There was speculation after Matt Rhule's firing that a fire sale could happen in Carolina, and after a trade earlier this week that sent wide receiver Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals, another NFC West team dropped in and netted an even bigger fish.
As for the 49ers, this move makes them the favorite in the NFC West and has the potential to make them the biggest threat to come out of the NFC. They have an elite defense and adding a healthy McCaffrey to Kyle Shanahan's run-friendly offense could put them over the top. The defense is first in the NFL in yards allowed at just 255.8 per game and second in points at 14.8.
The offense is 19th in the league in points scored per game at 20.3. McCaffrey has 85 carries for 393 yards and two touchdowns. As a receiver, he has 33 catches for 277 yards and one touchdown. It's going to be interesting to see the ways Shanahan utilizes McCaffrey and wide receiver Deebo Samuel together. The possibilities are endless.
Time will tell if the 49ers made the right move in trading for McCaffrey. But it certainly looks like they struck gold.
More must-reads: