In 2017, the Carolina Panthers selected Christian McCaffrey with the eighth overall pick. Those from the Bay Area were familiar with McCaffrey’s excellence in college. As a sophomore, McCaffrey ran for over 2000 yards and had over 640 receiving yards, totaling 13 touchdowns. As a junior, in three fewer games, McCaffrey had over 1,600 rushing yards and over 300 receiving yards, with a whopping 16 total touchdowns.
Fast forward to 2022, when Carolina decided to move off their star running back. McCaffrey’s injury history had been consistent as a pro. He missed six games in September 2020 with a high-ankle sprain, another four with a shoulder injury in November 2020, and four more in December 2020 with a thigh glute strain. In 2021, McCaffrey missed another 10 games with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and an ankle sprain.
Carolina wasn’t going anywhere and could use some cap relief in exchange for a player who was banged up while receiving draft capital. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers relied on Elijah Mitchell, Jeff Wilson Jr., rookie Jordan Mason, and sprinkled in Deebo Samuel for good measure — who could forget Ty Davis-Price? That was the ground game for Kyle Shanahan. The team could scheme some long runs, but the consistency wasn’t there.
John Lynch had an opportunity to get an All-Pro caliber player, and he pulled the trigger on a deal. The 49ers were only on the hook for $690,000 of McCaffrey’s 2022 salary.
The trade paid off immediate dividends. In 2022, the Niners scored nine more points a game while picking up three additional first downs with McCaffrey. Their third-down percentage jumped seven points. They were 10-1, with the one loss coming to the Kansas City Chiefs — which was played less than 72 hours after McCaffrey had been traded
Here’s what the 49ers gave up for McCaffrey:
- 2023 second-round pick
- 2023 third-round pick
- 2023 fourth-round pick
- 2024 fifth-round pick
The second-round pick helped Carolina land Bryce Young. The third- and fourth-round picks in 2023 basically became DJ Johnson, who the Panthers waived this past September. Finally, the 2024 fifth-rounder was used to move around in the draft and select running back Jonathon Brooks. He has nine career carries in 1.5 seasons.
On the one hand, the trade helped land the Panthers their would-be franchise quarterback. We will see if Carolina feels that way when it comes time for Young’s extension. On the other hand, the Panthers gave the 49ers a do-it-all player who has been in the MVP discussion multiple seasons.
Shanahan has spoken about McCaffrey like a mythical creature. “He’s had the best year as an offensive player that I’ve ever been a part of,” Shanahan said in January 2024. Shanahan has also said McCaffrey is “the best player I’ve ever been around without the ball in his hand” and there’s “no doubt” he’s the best player in the NFL.
Hyperbolic? Maybe. But we saw the ceiling of the 2023 offense, and how McCaffrey kept the 2025 version of the 49ers not just competitive offensively, but in the upper half of the NFL when it was essentially just him.
Needless to say, the 49ers won the trade.
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