The Carolina Panthers drafted both of their top two running backs with the future in mind. Chuba Hubbard was selected 126th overall in the 2021 NFL draft and has become one of the most consistent and popular faces on the team. He currently ranks fifth all-time in rushing yards for the Panthers with 3,686 yards. That’s about 300 yards more than sixth place Deshaun Foster and 300 yards fewer than fourth place Christian McCaffrey.
Carolina controversially traded up for a then-injured Jonathon Brooks,
taking him with the 46th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He is curreny tied 91st all-time for rushing yards in franchise history with 22 yards. He is tied with Panthers greats Derek Anderson, Vinny Testaverde, Tony Fiametta, and Will Grier.
All jokes aside, it is neither Brooks’ or Dan Morgan’s fault that he tore his ACL again during his rookie season. All reports currently have him as healthy and ready to ease back into a full season of work.
While the question was “who will lead the team in yards” I think the survey results also represent an ideal breakdown of how carries could be split across the Panthers backfield.
The Panthers haven’t had a truly split backfield since the days of Deangelo Williams (2nd all-time rushing leader) and Jonathon Stewart (1st all-time rushing leader). Perhaps this is the year they get back to that.
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