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Christian McCaffrey says he never imagined playing for anyone other than the Carolina Panthers. General manager Scott Fitterer reassured him that he wasn't going anywhere. Six games later, the running back's time with Carolina was over. The Panthers traded the running back to the San Francisco 49ers.
As much as he looked forward to the opportunity to contribute to an already talented roster, McCaffrey was still frustrated by the move.
"It's a weird deal because there's so many emotions, and the first emotion is probably anger," McCaffrey recently said on the Bussin' with the Boys podcast, per Michael Gallagher of YardBarker. "Like, you guys don't want me anymore. That's really what it is. 'Well, they got a lot for you.' Nah, like you think you're better off without me; that's what it is. You're pissed off, but then you're excited.
"There's so many emotions that get flooded at you at once. … I don't know if I've fully decompressed yet from the whole thing."
Top receiving grades in 2022 from @PFF (including playoffs)
— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) February 28, 2023
1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, #49ers, 92.4
2. Tyreek Hill, WR, #Dolphins, 92.0
3. Travis Kelce, TE, #Chiefs, 91.6
4. Davante Adams, WR, #Raiders, 90.5
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, #Lions, 90.4
McCaffrey's first start with the 49ers came during Week 8. San Francisco won that game, and the 11 that followed, riding a 12-game win streak into the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Unfortunately, injuries to every quarterback on the 49ers roster ended that streak, and the team's season ended one game short of returning to the Super Bowl.
McCaffrey, 26, is signed through the 2025 season. His scheduled salary cap hit is about $12 million in each of the upcoming three seasons.
