Carolina signing of Miles Sanders deemed most-puzzling of free agency

Miles Sanders Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers' signing of Miles Sanders deemed most puzzling move of free agency

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 3/23/23

Despite rushing for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2022-23 season, a handful of ESPN staff writers deemed the Carolina Panthers' addition of former Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders to be the “most head-scratching move” of free agency.

Worldwide Leader analysts Stephania Bell, Matt Miller and Jason Reid were all in agreement that Carolina overpaid for Sanders, who had never rushed for more than 867 yards or six touchdowns prior to this past season.

“I'm always an advocate for running backs getting their money; they usually get shorted when it comes to second contracts, given how devalued their position is because of injury risk,” Bell said. “But the Panthers let D'Onta Foreman walk after the best season of his career for a back on a more expensive contract.”

From @GMFB: I offer thoughts on how it all went down with Aaron Rodgers, plus the #Panthers signed RB Miles Sanders while the #Saints are signing RB Jamaal Williams. pic.twitter.com/SHKacfChbE
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2023

“I like Sanders, but four years and $25 million is a lot for a running back not named Saquon Barkley,” Miller added. “For context, Foreman rushed for 914 yards in Carolina last year and signed in Chicago for three million.”

The Panthers gave Sanders $13 million in guaranteed money — the ninth-highest guaranteed payout at the position in the NFL and more than other top running backs like Jonathan Taylor, Aaron Jones, Travis Etienne and David Montgomery.

In four seasons with the Eagles, Sanders rushed for 3,708 yards and 20 touchdowns while averaging five yards per carry. Whether it was an overpay or not, he does upgrade a Panthers rushing attack which lost both Foreman and Christian McCaffrey over the last half year. That duo rumbled for a combined 1,307 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

In addition to Sanders, Carolina’s other running backs currently on roster include Chuba Hubbard, Spencer Brown and Raheem Blackshear.

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