3 Panthers on the Trade Block After the NFL Draft
By Joe Summers
2. Miles Sanders - RB
The writing has been on the wall for Miles Sanders all offseason. He underwhelmed with only 3.3 yards per carry in 2023 and lost the starting job to Chuba Hubbard, and now Carolina has a new workhorse running back with second-round pick Jonathon Brooks out of Texas.
Sanders now projects to be the third back on the depth chart once Brooks returns from his ACL tear. Given his high price tag, I expect the Panthers to try to rid themselves of the disappointing running back as soon as possible. There were big expectations when Carolina signed the former Eagle to a four-year deal, though it's best for everyone to part ways at this point.
Miles Sanders lost his job to Chuba Hubbard last season. And on Friday #Panthers used a Round 2 pick at RB. Fairly certain Dan Morgan would "listen."
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) April 28, 2024
Problem is Sanders is carrying a $7.7M cap hit in 2024. That's 5th-most among all RBs. https://t.co/BN7iN0pkyY
Getting Sanders off the roster could be more trouble than it's worth. His $7.7 million cap hit is a massive overpay given his limited production, so it might prove prudent for the Panthers to deal him with this season and get out of the contract next offseason when Sanders doesn't have any guaranteed money remaining.
Brooks had a whopping 1,425 yards from scrimmage and 11 TDs in only 11 games for the Longhorns in 2023. You don't spend a high draft pick on a running back just to have him ride the bench, and I expect Brooks to get a majority of the work right out of the gate.
Sanders can be a depth piece to lead the backfield in case of injury, though he's clearly not worth the contract he was given. If Morgan can get a late-round draft pick from a team with a weak backfield, he should jump at the chance.