Report: Panthers’ RB Decision-Making Process Faces…

Contrary to popular belief, two things can be true at the same time. In terms of the Carolina Panthers of the 2020s, followers of the team have become acutely familiar with that tension. Another conundrum for fans to discuss in that ilk was dropped by Dan Morgan and his staff yesterday when his Panthers and Chuba Hubbard inked a four-year, $33.2 million deal.

Conversations about Hubbard’s work ethic, his meaning to the franchise, and the value of retaining homegrown talent were juxtaposed against the always fun, never-draining conversation around the value of paying top dollar to running backs. We’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be black and white. Both sides of the argument have valid points.

Chuba Hubbard earned his contract extension

Hubbard has arguably been the Panthers most valuable offensive asset in 2024. A case can be made for the offensive line that is plowing holes for him to charge through, but Hubbard continuously makes chicken salad out of chicken you-know-what, squeezing every inch of yardage out of Dave Canales’ vaunted run game. His statistical output (133 carries, 665 yards, and five touchdowns) has him firmly in the conversation among the league’s elite, and his Herculean work-ethic is worth betting on as a tone-setter for a young, rebuilding team.

The veteran running back entered the league with questions about his hands. Hubbard ran for over 2000 yards in his last season at Oklahoma State (a top-15 mark in NCAA history at that point), but he only caught eight passes as a junior. His lack of impact in the passing game and a propensity to trip over his own two feet led to disdain from the fanbase, but Chuba continued to work on his craft. Hubbard was spotted catching passes from the JUGS machine every day this summer to add another wrinkle to his game. His grind paid off, as Hubbard is on pace to smash his single-season high water mark of 39 receptions.

That kind of work ethic is key for a rebuilding team. The Panthers need veterans to be key voices in the room for the young players that will come in and of the building in the upcoming years. Carolina is rebuilding, whether that is their messaging or not, and Hubbard is the exact type of player a team like the Panthers need in the building as they build toward contention.

Lastly, re-signing homegrown players looks good to free agents around the league. Carolina has either traded away (Brian Burns, Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore) or failed to re-sign (Cam Newton, Josh Norman) contributing veterans time and again this decade. Why would anybody want to sign in Carolina knowing their time here is likely to be limited? Good on Carolina for locking down a veteran contributor long-term to start changing the volatile messaging that has assuredly been churning about how Carolina deals in contract negotiations.