One of the biggest trades of the season is shaping up to be the 49ers acquiring Christian McCaffrey from the Panthers.
McCaffrey has thrived in Kyle Shanahan's offense, not as a focal point, but as a complement to an already elite suite of weapons.
McCaffrey had 1,210 yards in 11 games with the 49ers in the regular season, along with 10 touchdowns (plus a passing TD to boot). He has been a solid weapon for both Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy, and a terrific running back, as he's been throughout his career.
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What did the 49ers part with to land McCaffrey back in October? The Sporting News revisits the trade, along with where the picks stand now heading into the divisional round.
Christian McCaffrey trade details
In October, the 49ers and Panthers agreed to a trade that would send McCaffrey to the Bay Area.
It was McCaffrey for several picks, and the Panthers did not send any picks in return, making McCaffrey the true focus.
- 49ers receive: RB Christian McCaffrey
- Panthers receive: 2023 second-round pick, 2023 third-round pick, 2023 fourth-round pick, 2024 fifth-round pick
Although the Panthers didn't land a first-round pick, making the trade a bit of a coup at the time, they did still get the majority of the 49ers' draft this season.
If the 49ers are eliminated this weekend, those picks would convey as Nos. 25-28 in Rounds 2, 3, and 4, depending on the records of the other losers.
If the 49ers make it to conference championship weekend, they would be either No. 29 or 30. If they lose the Super Bowl it would be No. 31. And if they win the Super Bowl it will be No. 32.
Christian McCaffrey contract
The 49ers inherited McCaffrey with three years left on his deal, as he's signed through the 2025 season.
His cap hit is $12 million over each of the next three years, evenly dispersed.
The 49ers, of course, signed McCaffrey to help them win a Super Bowl. So far, he's fit the bill. But things are only going to get tougher moving forward.
The Panthers have been rooting for the 49ers to lose as soon as possible, but San Francisco has entrenched itself as one of the NFL's most feared teams heading into the home stretch of the season.
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As the Panthers continue to seek a new coach and a true quarterback of the future, the rebuild is in progress in Carolina, as small overhauls have not yet worked. The bevy of draft picks, though undoubtedly not what they wanted, should prove useful this season.
The 49ers, meanwhile, boast one of the league's most complete rosters. For them, it's Super Bowl or bust. Whether or not this trade is recalled as a win-win will depend on how the Panthers draft. But for now, San Francisco is getting its money's worth out of it.
