The 49ers' offense was dangerous enough with Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle as its three principal pass-catching playmakers. There's no longer a need to imagine how dangerous San Francisco would be with an elite all-around running back, too.
That fantasy became reality when the team made a blockbuster deal with Carolina to acquire Christian McCaffrey late Thursday night, a little more than a week before the NFL's midseason trade deadline.
CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY TRADED TO 49ERS:
- Trade details: SF sends four picks to Carolina
- Will McCaffrey play in Week 7 vs. the Chiefs?
- Why did the Panthers trade McCaffrey?
- Niners aren't taking a big financial gamble
- Who's the next man up in the Panthers' backfield?
McCaffrey will now be playing for Kyle Shanahan, who knows him well as a person and will maximize him as a player. Kyle's coaching father, Mike, won two Super Bowls with Christian's wide receiver father, Ed, in Denver.
The 49ers acted quickly to secure McCaffrey's rushing and receiving prowess knowing they would have competition from other high-profile Super Bowl-hopeful suitors, including the Rams and Bills.
Here's breaking down how the 49ers landed in a gold mine and the Panthers fell further into a deep pit.
Christian McCaffrey trade grades
49ers receive:
- RB Christian McCaffrey
Panthers receive:
- 2023 second-round draft pick
- 2023 third-round draft pick
- 2023 fourth-round draft pick
- 2024 fifth-round draft pick
49ers grade: A+
The 49ers have an exceptional zone blocking system anchored by the game's best left tackle, Trent Williams. That adds up to a premier running game. They went into Week 7 ranked 12th in the league at 124 yards rushing per game.
They had been rolling with a revolving door of running backs who provided consistently high production. Before 2021, they had five leading rushers in five seasons under Shanahan: Carlos Hyde, Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Elijah Mitchell.
Shanahan got by without spending much for backs who were ideal for his scheme. He hadn't scored a Terrell Davis or Clinton Portis-type like his father before him. That ends with McCaffrey. The 49ers already were a matchup nightmare across the board with how well Samuel, Aiyuk and Kittle operated off the rushing attack with Jimmy Garoppolo playing point guard. Now, McCaffrey gives them a dual-threat chess piece that will drive defenses insane.
MORE: How Christian McCaffrey fits perfectly in 49ers offense
in 2022, few moves made for a running back can turn a team from a strong playoff-bound contender into a Super Bowl team. McCaffrey to San Francisco is one of the exceptions. The 49ers had the present (and future) salary cap space and could afford to give up draft picks. With their most talented roster yet, on offense and defense, under Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, they were in position to go all-in to win the ring they didn't quite get in Super Bowl 54.
Lynch has made some exceptional moves with his trades and draft picks. This is the latest coup, much like landing Garoppolo on Halloween to clean up quarterback five years ago.
Panthers grade: D-
The Panthers fired coach Matt Rhule and didn't waste too much time in starting an old-fashioned fire sale. Robbie Anderson was shipped fast to Arizona. McCaffrey also went to the NFC West. Who's next? Edge rusher Brian Burns? Wide receiver D.J. Moore?
MORE: Other deadline moves teams should make
The Panthers' offense is an absolute mess with no quarterback solution between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. They are thin at wide receiver with no downfield threat. Their offensive line is in transition. Minus McCaffrey, they are stuck with a limited committee of D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard in the backfield.
They wanted to get a first-rounder for McCaffrey. That was never going to happen. So they settled for quantity over quality. They got golden-fleeced; the only thing keeping them from a failing grade is some contract relief.
CMC was the only entity who was making the Panthers relevant in the NFL in 2022. Now he's going to San Francisco to be part of something special. Carolina is left with the worst offense in the NFL and even less short-term entertainment value.
The David Tepper era used to be tepid. Now it's terrible. Those extra four draft picks won't matter much if the Panthers don't hit on a franchise QB with likely the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft and then work to put him in an actual position to succeed. There should be little belief that happens. Great for the 49ers. Great for McCaffrey. Gross for the Panthers.
