Cat Scratch Reader
With the emergence of Rico Dowdle as the Carolina Panthers’ top running back option, many have begun to speculate about the potential availability of Chuba Hubbard as a trade candidate. The thought process makes sense: Dowdle has become the workhorse, Trevor Etienne has shown flashes, and Jonathon Brooks should be back fully healthy next season, so why not get some value for an overpaid backup running back?
The Panthers gave Hubbard a four-year, $33.2 million extension last year that includes a $4 million guaranteed salary this year and $4.5 million guaranteed in 2026. That is the extent of the guaranteed money, and the Panthers would be left with about $6 million in dead cap that they could spread out over the course of his remaining contract (through 2028, or about $1.5 million per season). That contract is quite reasonable for a 26-year-old thousand-yard-rusher, and there are quite a few teams that want some help at the running back position (e.g. Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, New York Giants). So why won’t a trade happen?
Much of that boils down to money and team chemistry. As for the former, the team trading for Hubbard would take on his guaranteed money this year and next. While the Patriots have a ton of cap space, the Chiefs and Giants would be hard pressed to fit Chuba’s salary on their books this season. The Chiefs are also in the red for next season, so they’d have a decision to make in early 2026 as well. As for the latter, the Panthers, for better or worse, are run like a family. The players truly care about each other, and Chuba Hubbard has been an unquestioned leader in the locker room for several years now. Canales was slow to replace Hubbard as the main back despite Dowdle’s incredible play; imagine how reluctant he would be to trade him entirely. Hubbard is constantly lauded as “one of our guys” by Dan Morgan and Dave Canales.
While the Panthers are still technically in a rebuild, I don’t see them parting with a core piece of their leadership group and the heart and soul of the offense. Morgan and Canales have both mentioned wanting to send the message that guys who produce in Carolina get rewarded. Trading Chuba Hubbard would send a different message altogether.
