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The Carolina Panthers handed a four-year, $33.2 million contract extension to running back Chuba Hubbard on Thursday despite their position in the middle of a rebuild.
Hubbard, a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State, has not surpassed 1,000 yards in any of his previous three seasons in the NFL. However, he’s on pace to do so this season and is averaging a career-high 5.0 yards per carry. That 5.0 number ranks him sixth in the NFL among qualified running backs.
But while Hubbard has proven to be an above-average NFL running back, the move makes little sense for several reasons.
For one, paying running backs in the NFL is a rarity these days. The league is loaded with talented backs on cheap contracts that can be found late in the draft. And secondly, the Panthers are nowhere near competing for a playoff spot, less yet a Super Bowl.
Carolina’s roster is a black hole. The Panthers still need to find a quarterback after 2023 No. 1 NFL Draft pick Bryce Young went crashing out, losing his starting spot to veteran journeyman Andy Dalton.
The Panthers have no No. 1 wide receiver. Their offensive line is a mess. Their pass defense concedes the fourth-most yards per attempt in the league. That’s only narrowly better than their run defense, with ranks in a tie for 22nd and allows 4.6 yards per carry.
If ever there were a time to not sign a running back to a big, long-term deal it would be now.
Oh, and did we mention that Carolina traded up to select Jonathan Brooks in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft? The Panthers are also still on the hook for the four-year, $25 million deal they gave Miles Sanders ahead of the 2023 season.
“I’m so happy for Chuba! And I’m so sorry to literally everyone else. Mostly Panthers fans, players, and coaches for unthinkably inept team-building practices from the top,” one fan said of Hubbard’s extension.
“Very cool to see Hubbard get paid. Been one of the more underrated backs in the league past two years. But what are the Panthers doing? Way too many resources at RB for a bad team,” said another.
The Panthers are up the creek without a paddle, and it’s hard to see that changing anytime soon.