NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Carolina Panthers made a huge splash this offseason with the free agent signing of RB Miles Sanders formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles on a 4-year deal worth $25M. With Sanders onboard, the Panthers now have a proven back with playoff and Super Bowl experience to help usher in a new era in Panthers’ football.
Sanders, entering his 5th season in the NFL still has mileage left. In his 4 seasons with the Eagles, Sanders carried the ball 739 times for 3708 yards and 22 touchdowns. Last season was his most productive year where he rushed for 1269 yards on 259 carries and scored 11 TDs from the ground. But Sanders can do a bit more. In his rookie season in 2019, Sanders was used as a dual back for the Eagles where he caught 50 passes for 509 yards.
The Panthers will need more of that production for various reasons. The main one is that the Panthers are going through a complete makeover, especially on the offensive side of the ball. After a trade with the Chicago Bears, the Panthers now own the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In desperate need of a QB, the Panthers will have their pick of the litter, and having Sanders as an insurance policy in the backfield will bode well for any rookie.
How Will The Carolina Panthers Use Miles Sanders
Another reason the Panthers will need to squeeze every bit of production from Sanders is that the team is also leaning on receivers with minimal depth and experience. For the diehard Panthers faithful, Sanders will need to become the second coming of former RB Christian McCaffery. McCaffrey was the dual threat that Sanders will need to channel in order for the team to be successful.
One issue that needs to be addressed is Sander’s durability. During this career, prior to last season, Sanders has not carried the ball more than 160 times. He will need to prove that he can be durable. With the Carolina Panthers letting Foreman go in free agency, Sanders is in-line to handle a large workload out of the backfield. Is he ready for that?
One good piece of news for the backfield is that Miles Sanders will have help in RB Chuba Hibbard who gained 466 yards on 95 carries last season. With the team engulfed in a youth movement, Sanders does fit into that scheme as he’s only 25 years of age. He will be looked upon to not only lead on the field but in the locker room as well. This was a great signing by the Panthers.
