Louisville football: Reggie Bonnafon is a sleeper for Carolina Panthers
Christian McCaffrey’s success isn’t a guarantee
We start where we must because if Bonnafon is going to get onto the field more than just for a carry per game this season, there’s a massive roadblock in the way. Christian McCaffrey, one of the best backs in the league, is going to have to give up some touches.
Enter new head coach Matt Rhule.
Rhule is a rookie on the NFL scene. A gamble by the Panthers organization, Rhule is a man who seems more than inclined to bend some traditional ones on the path to success.
The first-year head coach is not a guy, if history holds true, to utilize only one back.
Last year, McCaffrey touched the ball on over one-third of Carolina’s plays and played nearly every snap. For a modern NFL running back, it seems illogical to keep your star running back in every single down and force-feed him the ball.
Intuition tells me that McCaffrey will be relieved of his duties more often in 2020 in order to squeeze more production out of him in late-game situations.
Who better to take his place than Bonnafon? The Panthers liked what Bonnafon was doing so much last season that they signed him to a 1-year, $585,000 deal.
A potential hold-out?
Plus, one has to consider that after his success last season, McCaffrey is going to want to re-negotiate his contract heading into this season.
McCaffrey is heading into the final year of his contract, where he will be only the fifth-highest paid player on a team where Teddy Bridgewater and defensive end Kawaan Short will be the two highest-paid players.
Given McCaffrey’s national acclaim, he will be by far the most recognizable face on the team and the future of the franchise. Do you think the Panthers are going let McCaffrey just play out the remainder of his contract and let him walk after season’s end? No shot.
That’s why, given the current state of the nation and an offseason that seems like it could be delayed at this point, a McCaffrey hold-out is entirely possible.
We saw this with LeVeon Bell in 2018 and AJ Green- among others- in 2019. Players have no issue making sure they get what’s rightfully theirs. On a team that needs McCaffrey more than he needs them, he is going to be sure that he gets his.
McCaffrey’s agent, Joe Segal, has become known for being able to help big-name players like Khalil Mack through similar situations.
The Panthers are going to either have to pay McCaffrey or there’s a good chance he sits the bench.
Who is going to be waiting in the wings to eat up those snaps? Bonnafon.