Carolina Panthers select Christian McCaffrey
With the eighth-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers selected Christian McCaffrey out of the University of Stanford.
McCaffrey took great bloodlines (his father won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos as a receiver) and turned them into a first-round pick. The Stanford star has been a projected first-rounder for well over a year, with people believing he might be the next Marshall Faulk.
Of all his skills, it’s perhaps the ability to catch passes that has everyone most excited. With the Cardinal, the youngster caught 82 passes for just shy of 1,000 yards over the last two years, doing it both out of a natural receiver position and from the backfield. He did his most damage as a conventional running back, though, churning out 2,019 yards as a sophomore in 2015 before registering 1,603 last year.
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 202
40-time: 4.48
Bench: 10 reps
Vertical: 37.5”
Broad: 121”
3-cone: 6.57
At 202 pounds, McCaffrey should have decent size for the position, although his bench reps suggest he needs to get stronger. If there is any concern, it revolves around his ability to get between the tackles. At this juncture, look for him to be mostly used as a speedster around the end while returning kicks and catching some passes.
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If you need a comparison for McCaffrey that isn’t to a Hall of Famer, think of a faster Larry Centers. If you are really old school Roger Craig would be a quality comp. McCaffrey isn’t going to be the pure runner of a Leonard Fournette, but he gives you a nice player who can help out on all three downs and on special teams.