Old North Banter
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Carolina Panthers: Grab Versatile Christian McCaffrey at No. 8

By John Woodcock

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell poses with a fan and Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis (right) as Christian McCaffrey (not pictured) is selected as the number 8 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell poses with a fan and Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis (right) as Christian McCaffrey (not pictured) is selected as the number 8 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Carolina Panthers did the obvious, but that was just great for all involved.

The Carolina Panthers did not panic and did not hesitate. The first round draft board fluctuated a bit oddly before pick number eight. Wide receivers showed up in the calculus and there was the Chicago Bears moving up a spot to draft Mitch Trubisky. Once the Jacksonville Jaguars took Leonard Fournette at four, the deal was pretty much sealed and trade arrived to change it.

The Panthers added to their roster tonight by bringing in running back Christian McCaffrey. The ten carries that he might see a game are the least interesting thing about him as a player. He will be lined up all over the field and not just when Jonathan Stewart needs a blow. Wide receiver screens and jet sweeps are possibilities as are finding some slant routes to attack defenses with.

The time for McCaffrey to adjust to the new playbook should not be too much of a concern either. He is a Stanford man, and Stanford has run a pro-style power running office ever those forgotten days when Jim Harbaugh was there. McCaffrey will understand what he is being asked to do.

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Some of that stuff may be special teams related like kickoff and/or punt returns. In that sense, McCaffrey is the answer to the question about replacing Ted Ginn. He can handle the return duties and be deployed in the slot from time to time.

He gives the Panthers so many options with how to use him, and their willingness to use him will likely extend Jonathan Stewart’s career a little more. He could both take carries away from Cam, and add a deadly new punch to the Panthers’ option style plays that they occasionally run.

Next: A Surprising Consensus

The Panthers’ next pick is tomorrow at number forty. They can be free to look at defense or offensive line now at number 40. This pick was not a surprise. The next one could be.

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