NFL Twitter were left in shock after seeing the San Francisco 49ers pull off a blockbuster trade for Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.
For the first time in a couple of weeks, a Thursday Night Football game actually had a lot of points scored. Of course, now no one is talking about it thanks in part to a blockbuster trade just days before the Nov. 1 deadline.
ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter was first to report that the San Francisco 49ers have acquired star running back Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for multiple draft picks.
Way to overshadow the Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints game.
NFL Twitter users were left in shock after seeing the news pop up on their notifications.
49ers pull off blockbuster trade for Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey: Best memes, tweets
As for what kind of return the Panthers received, NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport reported that the 49ers are sending over a 2023 second-round pick, a 2023 third-round selection, a 2023 fourth-rounder, and a 2024 fifth-round draft pick. It is a massive haul for a Panthers team officially entering a rebuild.
McCaffrey returns to California to play football, as he spent his collegiate career with the Stanford Cardinal. He broke Barry Sanders’ single-season, all-purpose yards record back in 2015. With his play, he became the eighth-overall pick by the Panthers in 2017.
When healthy, McCaffrey is perhaps the most dangerous player on the football field. He can run and catch passes out of the backfield to help the offense drive into the end zone. The thing is, McCafrrey has been dealt with his fair share of injuries in recent years, playing 10 total games between the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Now, he joins a 49ers offense that also contains wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle.
The Panthers, meanwhile, already traded wide receiver Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals. Now, after trading McCaffrey, the Panthers have signaled that the fire sale has begun. Not only that, but they are in contention for the first-overall pick in 2023, giving them the chance to select C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, or Will Levis, three of the top quarterback prospects in the upcoming class.
