San Francisco 49ers acquire Panthers star Christian McCaffrey for draft picks

San Francisco, California - The San Francisco 49ers have won the Christian McCaffrey sweepstakes, acquiring the All-Pro running back from the Carolina Panthers on Thursday for four draft picks, according to multiple reports.

The Carolina Panthers' Christian McCaffrey ranks fourth in the NFL with 670 scrimmage yards.
The Carolina Panthers' Christian McCaffrey ranks fourth in the NFL with 670 scrimmage yards.  © Collage: Mike Comer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP & Harry How / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Off to an ugly 1-5 start, the Panthers had been considering trading McCaffrey, and they found a partner in the 49ers. Carolina will receive picks in the second, third, and fourth round in the 2023 draft, and a fifth-round selection in 2024.

The 26-year-old McCaffrey ranks fourth in the NFL with 670 scrimmage yards, amassing 393 on the ground and another 277 through the air.

He joins a 49ers team that lost starting running back Elijah Mitchell to a sprained MCL in the season opener and quarterback Trey Lance to a season-ending broken ankle the next week.

Despite the significant injuries, the 49ers are 3-3 and in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks and defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.

The versatile McCaffrey gives quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo another weapon to an offense that features receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle.

The eighth overall pick of the 2017 draft, McCaffrey’s best season came in 2019, when he became the third player in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. He finished with 1,387 rushing yards and 1,005 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns to tie for the league lead.

Injuries, however, limited him to just 10 total games in 2020 and '21, but he’s suited up for all six games this year.

McCaffrey becomes the second Carolina player traded to an NFC West team this week after the Arizona Cardinals acquired wide receiver Robbie Anderson on Monday.

Cover photo: Collage: Mike Comer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP & Harry How / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

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