Christian McCaffrey trade grades: Panthers receive a haul of draft picks as part of deal with 49ers - CBSSports.com site: media arena: nfl pageType: stories section: slug: christian-mccaffrey-trade-grades-panthers-receive-a-haul-of-draft-picks-as-part-of-deal-with-49ers sport: football route: article_single.us 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories CBSSports.com 247Sports MaxPreps SportsLine Shop Play Golf Stubhub Caesars Sportsbook CBS Sports Home Sports HQ Fantasy NFL NCAA FB MLB Soccer NBA Golf NHL NCAA BB NCAA WBB Champions League MMA WWE Boxing NASCAR Motor Sports USFL NWSL WNBA Horse Racing Olympics Big3 Tennis High School WSOP Shop Promotions PBR 3Ice Stubhub Play Golf Play

Games

Play Now Football Pick em Play Now College Football Pick em View your Leagues

Caesars Sportsbook

Fantasy Football

Football Pick em

College Pick em

Fantasy Baseball

Fantasy Basketball

Fantasy Hockey

Franchise Games

See All Sports Games Watch

7 Ole Miss at LSU

Paramount+ NCAA Football UEFA Champions League Serie A Liga Argentina Profesional Brasileirão NWSL Watch CBS Sports Network TV Shows & Listings Bet

BET WITH CAESARS

BET FOOTBALL BET BASKETBALL BET BASEBALL BET HOCKEY BET GOLF BET FUTURES BET LIVE IN-GAME Podcasts

Fantasy Football Today

Start or Sit (NFC Home Games)

Nothing Personal with David Samson

Talking the business of sports Podcasts Home Fantasy Football Today NFL Pick Six Cover 3 College Football Eye On College Basketball Morning Kombat The First Cut Golf Log In My Teams Organize / See All Teams Help Account Settings Log Out Weekly Schedules NFL Power Rankings Stats

Christian McCaffrey trade grades Panthers receive a haul of draft picks as part of deal with 49ers

The first domino has fallen as part of Carolina s rebuild

By Josh Edwards Oct 21, 2022 at 8:20 am ET • 2 min read The San Francisco 49ers acquired star running back Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for 2023 second-, third- and fourth-round selections, plus a fifth-round pick in 2024. It is a trade that has both short- and long-term ramifications for two separate franchises. Who won the trade?

49ers B-

San Francisco had already sent its 2023 first-round pick to Miami in the transactions that led to the selection of quarterback Trey Lance. After the McCaffrey trade, the franchise is left with three third-round compensatory picks granted by the NFL as part of an initiative rewarding organizations that developed minority head coaches and general managers hired away: Commanders general manager Martin Mayhew, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and Jets head coach Robert Saleh. From an on-field perspective, the move is an act of desperation. It did not feel as though they were in a closing Super Bowl window and McCaffrey does not come across as the missing piece for that offense. With that being said, fans should appreciate a front office willing to make a splashy move in an effort to compete for the ultimate prize. Since Lance suffered a season-ending injury, San Francisco has gone 2-2 with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm. They are in a three-way tie atop the NFC West. The acquisition of McCaffrey, a Stanford product, could be the jolt that the team needs but the Niners sacrificed future assets in the process.

Panthers A-

It is hard to call the team parting with a player as talented as McCaffrey a winner, but that is the case for Carolina. The reality is that they will soon be starting over with a new head coach and could be staring down a significant overhaul. Holding on to a running back who has missed 23 games since the start of the 2020 regular season does not help; nor does having his contract on the books. If said rebuild were to occur, Carolina now has ample draft capital to be aggressive. The Panthers hold their original picks in Rounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 so the haul from the Bay Area will be added to that pile. Quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are both free agents after the season so the franchise could have a clean slate at the position. If they want to move around for a top quarterback prospect -- thought to be Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Alabama's Bryce Young and Kentucky's Will Levis -- in the 2023 NFL Draft, they now have the draft capital to potentially pursue that option.

Our Latest Stories

Report Micah Parsons Trevon Diggs receive fines

Jordan Dajani • 1 min read

Report Teams expecting Chase Claypool to be available

Jordan Dajani • 1 min read

NFL Week 7 expert picks best bets more

Tyler Sullivan • 11 min read

Russell Wilson ruled out vs Jets Brett Rypien starts

Jonathan Jones • 1 min read

Report Texans to place Jonathan Greenard on IR

Jordan Dajani • 1 min read

Lynch understands McCaffrey trade is a gamble

Jordan Dajani • 1 min read

Watch Now:

Trade grade Panthers get picks for Christian McCaffrey

Josh Edwards 2 min read

NFL Week 7 expert picks best bets for every game

Tyler Sullivan 11 min read

Brinson s picks Jags cool red-hot Giants

Will Brinson 10 min read

McCaffrey in Niners O Wild stuff ahead

Jared Dubin 4 min read

Prisco s picks Boys roll in Dak s return

Pete Prisco 6 min read

Russell Wilson ruled out vs Jets Brett Rypien starts

Jonathan Jones 1 min read

Week 7 injuries Colts Taylor expected in Giants WRs out

Bryan DeArdo 9 min read

Report Teams expecting Claypool to be available

Jordan Dajani 1 min read

Report Ravens Dobbins to have surgery out 4-6 weeks

Bryan DeArdo 1 min read

Murray explains sideline flareup with Kingsbury

Jared Dubin 2 min read