NFL Draft 2017: Carolina Panthers first-round grade

The Carolina Panthers took Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Here is that pick’s grade.

The Carolina Panthers had their eye on two running backs throughout the draft process. With LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette already off the board to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 4, Carolina selected Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey with the No. 8 overall pick.

McCaffrey was simply electric in college. He was the runner-up to the 2015 Heisman Trophy that went to Alabama’s Derrick Henry, now of the Tennessee Titans. McCaffrey is especially explosive with the football in his hands. He can make an impact as a runners, as a pass catcher and in the return game.

With Carolina having a talented, but inaccurate passer in quarterback Cam Newton, McCaffrey is the perfect tailback for the Panthers offense going forward. Offensive coordinator Mike Shula had to have had his say on this pick, as he has run the Panthers offense for years. Look for McCaffrey to come in and contribute right away alongside often-injured running back Jonathan Stewart.

Only a few years ago would this pick have been massively ridiculed. McCaffrey was the closest thing the Pac-12 had to Reggie Bush since he went pro in 2005. However, the NFL has changed drastically on the offensive side of the football. McCaffrey will never be a bell-cow back capable of carrying the rock 25+ times a game. However, he is the type that can accumulate over 100 all-purpose yards every week.

Next: 2017 NFL Draft: Instant grades

Carolina needed to get more explosive on offense. The Panthers do play in the same division with high-octane offenses like the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints. Even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can hold their own in weekly shootouts. Adding McCaffrey at No. 8 makes the Panthers instantly better on offense.

Grade: A-