Christian McCaffrey Rumors: Panthers Haven’t Had Trade Talks With Bills, Other Teams

On Monday, reports began to emerge that the Carolina Panthers may be calling veterans on their roster in the wake of head coach Matt Rhule being fired, with one of the names making the rounds and the Buffalo Bills holding interest.

Jay Glazer @JayGlazer

Teams will now be calling the Panthers trying to trade for some of their players as they hope Carolina will look to stockpile picks as they rebuild

Jason La Canfora @JasonLaCanfora

The Panthers will have to eat salary to move guys like CMC and Robbie Anderson and the expectation around the industry, as reported previously in @washingtonpost, is that they will be very willing to do just that

Joe Person @josephperson

Bills reached out to the Panthers about Christian McCaffrey during the offseason, as well. https://t.co/KRed2nLBnG

Tom Pelissero reported later in the day that there had been no trade talks regarding the star player.

Tom Pelissero @TomPelissero

The #Panthers haven't had trade talks about Christian McCaffrey with the #Bills or any other team this season, per sources. Carolina already paid most of his $8.6M salary in a bonus. Every team will be working the phones the next few weeks, but nothing in the works with CMC.

When healthy, the 26 year old is one of the most dynamic offensive players in football. He's been one of the bright spots for the Panther's in their 1-4 start to the season, rushing for over 300 yards and two scores and adding 26 catches for over 200 yards and another score.

He is on pace for 1,740 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdown He ran for 1,387 yards and 15 scores and added 116 catches for 1,005 yards and four scores, but his output was not quite as good as it could have been.

Even though he hasn't yet matched his previous levels, his availability and production to this point have been more than welcomed, even if he hasn't yet matched his previous levels.

There's no doubt that he would be a major upgrade in Buffalo, where the trio of Singletary, Moss and Cook have combined for 351 rushing yard and one score, to go along with 29 catches for 205 yards and a score.

It's hard to imagine that he wouldn't be more productive with his touches in Buffalo than he is with the current backfield trio.

Adding his ability to impact the game as both a runner and receiver would make Buffalo's offense even more dangerous.

The question for the Bills would be how much of McCaffrey's salary the Carolinas might be willing to eat, and how much draft capital and other considerations they might be willing to part with to get him. There is a base salary of $11.8 million in both 2023 and 2024 and a $12 million base salary in the year 2025.

Spotrac @spotrac

Acquiring RB Christian McCaffrey at the 11/1 #NFL Trade Deadline...2022: $575k (guaranteed)2023: $12M ($0 guaranteed)2024: $12M ($0 guaranteed)

2025: $12.2M ($0 guaranteed)#Panthers Dead Cap Hits:

2022: $8.2M ($575k saved)

2023: $18.3M ($1.2M saved)https://t.co/f2wgwEDaJW

That isn't cheap for a player who has been injured in the past. The window in Buffalo is currently open. Even if talks don't happen, they are still an intriguing potential suitor.