The Carolina Panthers traded Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the 2022 trade deadline.
NFL analyst Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes the Carolina Panthers trading Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers is the 10th biggest blockbuster trade in NFL history.
The Panthers sent McCaffrey to the 49ers ahead of the 2022 trade deadline. Carolina got 2023 2nd-, 3rd-, 4th- and 5th-round picks in return.
"Adding McCaffrey hasn't gotten San Francisco another Lombardi Trophy, but it's helped the 49ers appear in one Super Bowl and two NFC Championship Games since," Knox wrote. "McCaffrey has earned two first-team All-Pro nods, one Offensive Player of the Year award, and one Comeback Player of the Year award since joining the 49ers."
McCaffrey appeared in 64 games with the Panthers. He racked up 3,980 rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns, 3,292 receiving yards and 18 receiving touchdowns.
The 49ers haven't won the championship with McCaffrey, but it was still a great trade for them. After all, McCaffrey is one of the best players in the league. When he's healthy, McCaffrey is a walking MVP candidate.
As for the Panthers, they made the playoffs last season. However, even though the Panthers won the NFC South title last season, they finished with a sub-.500 record and needed help in Week 18 to win the division. Dave Canales and Co. must prove next season that they didn't just benefit from playing in the league's weakest division.
The only way the Panthers will make the playoffs again next season is if Bryce Young takes his game to another level. The former No. 1 overall pick finished the 2025 season with 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
The Panthers have a tough 2026 schedule. They play the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Falcons.
In the post-McCaffrey era, Young is the face of the Panthers' franchise. Young enters next season with 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a Carolina uniform. He's 14-30-0 as a starter.
Young is set to make $12.1 million next season in the fourth year of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option is worth a guaranteed $25.9 million.
If Young plays well next season, he will likely get an extension next offseason. However, if Young underperforms in 2026, he could get traded.
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