CBS identifies Broncos as one of top landing spots for Christian McCaffrey
Oct 11, 2022, 2:19 PM
Could Christian McCaffrey be coming home to Colorado?
According to Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports, it’s a possibility.
Benjamin identified six teams that could trade for McCaffrey, and the Broncos made his list. After Carolina fired head coach Matt Rhule on Monday, it could be time for the team to move on from the star running back. McCaffrey, of course, is the son of former Broncos’ WR Ed and played his high school football at Valor Christian. He went on to star in college at Stanford, barely missing out on a Heisman Trophy.
McCaffrey was selected eighth overall by the Panthers in the 2017 NFL Draft, and was a First Team All-Pro in 2019 and a Pro Bowler. Injuries derailed his 2020 and 2021 seasons, but there’s no doubt when healthy, McCaffrey is one of the most dynamic running backs in the NFL.
So with Carolina sitting at 1-4, rumors are swirling they could move McCaffrey. He’s due close to $20 million in each of the next two seasons, so it’s a contract the team would like to dump. They’re not going to win anytime soon, so shedding his salary makes sense.
The teams listed in the CBS Sports article along with the Broncos at No. 3 are the Commanders (No. 6), Eagles (No. 5), 49ers (No. 4), Rams (No. 2) and Bills (No. 1). Here’s part of what Taylor wrote about McCaffrey and Denver:
Nathaniel Hackett’s team-up with Russell Wilson has been erratic at best, and GM George Paton proved this offseason he’s willing to go big to fill holes sooner rather than later. With Javonte Williams out for the year and Melvin Gordon in the doghouse as a steady fumbler, Denver could use an adrenaline injection in the backfield, especially with Wilson struggling to elevate the squad. McCaffrey’s short-area receiving ability would also bode well for Russ establishing a rhythm.
It’s an interesting thought, especially with Williams going down for the season. But this feels a little like fantasy football, where the dream may not meet reality. As our senior Broncos writer Andrew Mason pointed out on Monday, the team doesn’t exactly have the assets to make a big trade. Almost all their compelling picks went to Seattle in the Russell Wilson deal last March.
For fans of football in Colorado, it will be worth monitoring if McCaffrey gets traded and where he ends up. For Broncos’ fans, this would ignite a season off to a disappointing start, but no one should be holding their breath.
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