Caleb Harris
The Carolina Panthers already had a crowded running back room, but added even more training camp intrigue by signing veteran Rashaad Penny to a contract (by ESPN). Penny, a 2018 first-round pick, was an afterthought for the Philadelphia Eagles last season — having just 11 carries for 33 yards (3.0 yards per carry) in three games played with the team. He was a healthy scratch for most of the year.
Penny has been one of the most productive running backs in the NFL the two seasons before Philadelphia. He led the NFL in yards per carry among running backs with 150 carries (6.2) during that span – the only players with higher scores were quarterbacks Justin Fields and Lamar Jackson.
In the last 10 games played before arriving in Philadelphia, Penny had 149 carries for 1,017 yards and eight touchdowns – and an average of 6.8 yards per carry. He didn’t get to see the field in Philadelphia last season, playing behind D’Andre Swift, Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott.
The Panthers are betting that Penny will become the player he was with the Seattle Seahawks. Does Penny have a chance at Carolina?
How Penny fits into the Panthers’ back room
The Panthers have been revamping the running back position after finishing 30th in rushing touchdowns (seven) and 23rd in yards per carry (4.0), part of an offense that finished 30th in points per possession (1.19) and 29th in yards per possession (25.1). ).
Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard are still on the roster, but the Panthers drafted Jonathan Brooks in the second round of the 2024 draft (Brooks was the first running back taken). Penny was also added as veteran competition for Sanders and Hubbard.
Hubbard led the Panthers with 902 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 3.8 yards per carry. Sanders had just 432 rushing yards and one touchdown while averaging just 3.3 yards per carry in the first year of a four-year, $25.4 million contract.
Penny has a history with head coach Dave Canales, as he was on the offensive coaching staff when Penny was in Seattle (although Canales worked with the quarterbacks and the passing game). There is still familiarity with how the attack was executed, which plays to Penny’s strengths.
The Panthers could see how Penny performs in training camp before making a final decision on him, or they have already made a decision on a running back with a big contract.
Will Miles Sanders be back?
The Panthers could simply cut their losses with the 27-year-old Sanders, who still has three years left on his contract. Sanders could be designated as a post-June 1 cut in which Carolina would consume $7.495 million in dead space spread over the next two years while saving $200,000 for 2024.
Carolina could just wait a year before moving on from Sanders, saving $5.225 million if they release him in 2025. The Panthers could wait until Canales can get the most out of Sanders before deciding to move on if they remain unhappy with the contract.
