Looking to the draft, there are some backs who may be able to serve as the Cam Preserver, albeit to different levels. The Panthers selected Christian McCaffrey in the first round last year and the thought of drafting another running back in the first round would certainly draw the ire of some and result in ‘New Double Trouble’ memes. There are truly only two first-round candidates for the Panthers to consider at 24: the long-gone Saquon Barkley; and LSU’s Derrius Guice. Guice fits the bill in every way, but also was banged up for the majority of the 2017 season. If Guice were to be sitting there at 24, he will likely be a part of the discussion in the Panthers’ war room, but I suspect the hammer comes later in the draft.
The second round may offer the best fit for the role in Georgia’s Nick Chubb (5’11, 227 lbs). The Panthers were the first team publicly linked to Chubb and he’s a powerful back with incredible balance who’s at home running between the tackles; Chubb could also serve as a closer, the back used to grind the clock in the fourth quarter, another task not well suited to McCaffrey. Among the bigger backs, the class falls off after Chubb, and if the Panthers don’t land Chubb or Guice, they likely won’t find a feature back to fill the need, instead they’ll be picking from more limited, short-yardage specific role players/smaller backs who don’t fit the bill as well. Royce Freeman (5’11, 229) and Kalen Ballage (6’1, 228) both weighed in heavier than Chubb, but Freeman doesn’t run with the same force as Chubb and Ballage is an indecisive, taller back with an upright style, not well suited for the task at hand.
San Diego State’s Rashad Penny (5’11, 220) could be another option, but he’s not a guy you’d peg for short yardage duty. Penny was not asked much to do much in pass protection, which would limit his usefulness on third and fourth down, at least initially, as well as potentially limiting CMC if he’s instead forced to stay in the backfield more often to help with blitz pickups.
Alabama RB Bo Scarbrough. Photo Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Tennessee’s John Kelly (5’10, 216) is in the mold of the power back, but weighed in at the combine at only 216 pounds and may not be the right fit for an organization that tends to shy away from players with off-the-field issues such as Kelly’s misdemeanor drug charge and subsequent suspension last October.
As the draft shifts to day 3, the power back class shifts to more limited players, most notably Alabama’s Bo Scarbrough. Scarbrough and Chubb posted very similar combines, but Chubb is a more full-functioning back than Scarbrough. Scarbrough has excellent initial burst for his size, but is more of a straight line runner who battled injuries despite never carrying the load for the Crimson Tide, except for the Washington game, when he posted career highs in both attempts (19) and yardage (180). The Panthers lack a fourth-round pick and while a fifth-rounder would be worth the investment in a short-yardage back, it’s not likey Scarbrough lasts that long.
Oregon State’s Ryan Nall (6’2″ 232 lbs) could be a late-round selection with the intention of making him into a Richie Brockel/Mike Tolbert type H-back. In fact, that’s what OSU thought they were getting before injuries pushed Nall to starting RB; Nall stands taller and heavier than most RBs, but showed well at the Combine. He’s capable of catching the ball out of the back field, blocking and running between the tackles.
LSU’s Darrel Williams (6’1, 229 lbs) had an up-and-down time in Baton Rouge. He took over the running back duties when both Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice were injured, but also earned the nickname ‘Fat Darrel’ and lost his starting job to Guice in 2016. Williams bounced back in 2017, becoming the first LSU Tiger to have 100 rushing and receiving yards in a game and culminating in him being named team MVP. Williams ran a disappointing 4.72 in the 40 at the combine, blaming a bad start and vowing to run better at this week’s LSU Pro Day; the 22-year old fumbled just once in his 365 college touches and that was as a freshman in 2014. Williams is a competent pass protector and at his best between the tackles and if the Panthers are hoping to scoop up a late-round running back who may be able to grow into a more consistent role, Williams could fit the bill over the others.
Where the Panthers ultimately pick up another running back will determine the level of expectations for that player, but almost certainly, there will be a shiny new hammer in Norv Turner’s toolbox when training camp begins in August.
