Panthers trade McCaffrey to 49ers for draft picks

The Carolina Panthers have traded star running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers, the team announced Thursday.

Carolina will receive second-, third-, and fourth-round picks in 2023 and a 2024 fifth-rounder in exchange for McCaffrey, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Panthers were also deep in negotiations with the Los Angeles Rams about trading the dynamic playmaker for Day 2 draft selections before reaching a deal with the 49ers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

San Francisco now owes McCaffrey just $690,000 for the remainder of the 2022 campaign, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. He's signed through 2025 and is on the books for around $12 million over the next three years, with just $1 million guaranteed for injury.

The 26-year-old signed a record four-year extension with Carolina in 2020 that made him the league's highest-paid running back in average annual salary ($16 million).

McCaffrey has established himself as one of the NFL's premier running backs since being drafted eighth overall in 2017, largely thanks to his versatility. In 2019, the Stanford product became one of just three players in NFL history to collect 1,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. He led the league in touches (403), scrimmage yards (2,392), and total touchdowns (19) that year.

Injuries have been an issue for McCaffrey lately, as shoulder and hamstring ailments limited him to just 10 games across 2020 and 2021. The 26-year-old has played all six of Carolina's games in 2022, racking up 393 yards (4.6 per carry) and two touchdowns on the ground while adding 33 catches for 277 yards and one score.

The move adds another dynamic weapon to the 49ers, who have one of football's top offensive-minded head coaches in Kyle Shanahan. San Francisco has tried to bolster its backfield in recent years, using third-round picks on Trey Sermon and Tyrion Davis-Price in the last two drafts. Sermon is no longer with the club, while Davis-Price is sidelined with an ankle issue.

With 400 yards and two touchdowns, Jeff Wilson leads the 49ers in rushing this season. Dynamic receiver Deebo Samuel has also stepped up in the running game, averaging 5.9 yards per attempt.

The 49ers, who rank 10th with 5.7 yards per play, sit first in the NFC West with a 3-3 record. They began the year with Trey Lance under center but turned to Jimmy Garoppolo after Lance suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2.

McCaffrey will travel to San Francisco on Friday and is expected to make his 49ers debut Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, Rapoport notes. The Niners visit the Rams in Week 8.

The trade is the Panthers' second since firing head coach Matt Rhule. Carolina dealt disgruntled wide receiver Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals earlier this week for late-round picks in 2024 and 2025.

The 1-5 Panthers have lost three straight games and currently own the best odds to pick first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, according to ESPN.