The Carolina Panthers traded star running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Thursday.
The Panthers, as per the report, will receive a 2nd round pick in 2023, the 3rd round pick of 2023 and the 4th Round pick of 2023 along with a 5th Round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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The Panthers are 1-5 this season and have struggled to find stability at the quarterback position. Sam Darnold has a high ankle sprain and Baker Mayfield has ligament damage in his ankle. This leaves the team with PJ Walker, who will start in consecutive NFL games for the first time.
Panthers traded wide receiver Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals for two late-round draft picks. He was involved in a sideline argument with an assistant coach and sent to the locker room.
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However, McCaffrey was one of the bright spots in their campaign so far. He has 670 yards from scrimmage, which ranks fourth in the NFL behind only Saquon Barkley, Tyreek Hill and Nick Chubb. McCaffrey and Chubb are the only players in the league with five games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage.
McCaffrey said Wednesday that he’s trying to stay focused on Sunday’s game even as trade rumors swirl around the 2017 first-round draft pick.
“That’s out of my control. I’m trying to control everything I can control. Right now I’m a Carolina Panther and giving it all to this place,” McCaffrey said.
McCaffrey did not practice Wednesday as that is his normal rest day.
The Panthers have traded McCaffrey for draft compensation according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. They will save a little under $9 million in cap space for next season.
Christian McCaffrey finished his tenure at Carolina with 3,980 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns and 3,292 yards and 18 touchdowns through the air.
