The Carolina Panthers have signed star running back Christian McCaffrey to a four-year, $64 million contract extension, according to a report by NFL Network
The $16million average annual salary will make McCaffrey the highest-paid running back in the NFL, surpassing the Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott, although Elliott’s deal included two extra years.
McCaffrey and the Panthers have reportedly been working on the contract extension over the past few weeks, attempting to get a deal done before the 2019 All-Pro’s fourth season.
The eighth overall pick in 2017, McCaffrey’s usage and production have steadily increased over his three seasons with the Panthers, totaling 2,920 rushing yards and 2,523 receiving yards.
His 2019 campaign made him a breakout star with 2,392 yards from scrimmage and 19 total touchdowns.
The Panthers have chosen to make a large investment in their 23-year-old star at a time when many teams across the league have devalued the running back position. One possible reason is his versatility.
McCaffrey had at least 80 receptions in each of his three years and his 303 total receptions are the most ever by a running back through the first three seasons of his career.
He was responsible for 43.7 percent of the Panthers’ total yards from scrimmage last season, by far the most in the league. The next-highest share of net yards was the Cleveland Browns’ Nick Chubb, who was responsible for 32.5 percent.
Over his career, McCaffrey has been responsible for nearly one-third of the Panthers’ scrimmage yards, the highest mark in the league since 2017.
Former Carolina tight end Greg Olsen said on Twitter that McCaffrey was “beyond deserving” of his new contract.
