Panthers reportedly put high asking price on Christian McCaffrey

There has been some suggestion that the Carolina Panthers might be willing to listen to trade offers for running back Christian McCaffrey. That may be true, but he will not be easy to acquire.

Multiple teams have reached out and asked the Panthers about McCaffrey, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. The Panthers are reportedly asking for a first-round pick as well as another piece in exchange for McCaffrey.

On the surface, that asking price may make a McCaffrey trade look much less likely. His four-year, $64 million deal kicks in starting in 2022, and injuries have robbed him of the majority of the last two seasons. No one doubts that McCaffrey is a weapon if healthy, but he’s also expensive in terms of his cap hit and what it will take to acquire him.

Reports earlier in the offseason suggested the Panthers were at least willing to listen on McCaffrey. Unless they are willing to shift their asking price, that may be all they end up doing.

Photo: Nov 7, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) with the ball in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports