Are the Panthers targeting a running back with their first pick?

If the Panthers draft a running back with their top selection, do not say you weren’t warned.

Draft week is finally upon us, which means we only have a few days left of the drama and intrigue surrounding what the Carolina Panthers newest regime have planned for their inaugural draft. It is time to call your shots and place your bets on which direction you think the Panthers are headed, and I have something that I want to get off my chest: I believe the Carolina Panthers will spend their first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on a running back.

You may think I am crazy, and you’re probably right, but allow me to explain.

Reason No. 1: The Panthers aren’t beholden to any RB past the 2024 season.

Chuba Hubbard’s contract will expire at the end of the 2024 season leaving Miles Sanders as the only running back under contract for the 2025 NFL season. However, releasing the running back, who signed a four year contract prior to the 2023 season, would save $5 million against the cap after accounting for his $2.9 million dead cap hit, according to Spotrac.

If the Panthers have become a forward-thinking organization, does looking at a potentially blank depth chart in 2025 have them wanting to add to the room with a top pick?

Reason No. 2: The Panthers have shown interest in the consensus top two running back prospects.

According to the NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board, Jonathon Brooks and Trey Benson are the top running backs available in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Each team in the NFL is allowed to invite thirty draft prospects to visit their building for whatever reason they would like. The Panthers chose to use two of these visits on Brooks and Benson. If they had no intention on potentially drafting these players, why would they waste their limited visits?

Reason No. 3: The Panthers are keen about adding playmakers on offense, not just wide receivers.

While the narrative surrounding the Carolina Panthers is that they are desperate to add wide receivers to surround sophomore quarterback Bryce Young. However, the specific word used during the pre-draft press conference was “playmakers”. Wide receivers certainly fall into that bucket, but so does the running back position.

The 2024 receiver class is considered to be one of the best and deepest of all time. Could the Panthers use that as an excuse to pounce on a top-end back early and look to grab a receiver later on?

Reason No. 4: The run game is very important to Dave Canales.

Every time Head Coach (and offensive play-caller) Dave Canales speaks with the media, he stresses how important he believes running the ball is to a successful team.

Between bringing in Harold Goodwin as the dedicated Run Game Coordinator, prioritizing mauling offensive guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis as the first two signings in free agency, and constantly emphasizing how stubborn you intend to be...