This past week, Pro Football Focus got straight to the backbone of the NFL. In doing so, analyst Ben Linsey picked who he believes is each team’s best three players entering the 2022 season.
So, who did he identify as the Carolina Panthers’ big three? Well, he starts out with the dynamic combo they have on offense with running back Christian McCaffrey and wideout DJ Moore.
“Moore and McCaffrey — if both are healthy — are a fairly impressive one-two punch at the skill positions for the Panthers offense,” Linsey writes. “Moore has quietly stacked three consecutive 1,100-yard seasons with 75.0-plus PFF receiving grades despite having one of the worst quarterback situations in the league. Unfortunately for Moore, that’s not likely to change in 2022.”
McCaffrey is, undoubtedly, the best player this franchise has to offer. The only problem is—and it’s a pretty big one—that he’s hardly there to prove it anymore.
Out of a possible 33 games since 2020, the now oft-injured 25-year-old back has played in just 10 of them. This recent string of bad luck comes straight off his prolific 2019 campaign, where he became just the third player in league history to amass at least 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards.
And Moore is, well, Moore. Despite that aforementioned lack of continuity under center—which has included the likes of Cam Newton, Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, Will Grier, Teddy Bridgewater, PJ Walker and Sam Darnold—the young stud is as steady as they come at the position.
And speaking of steady, the man that completes the trio is right tackle Taylor Moton—who has not missed a single offensive snap in each of the past two seasons.
“Right tackle was the lone position that the Panthers didn’t have to address on the offensive line heading into 2022, as Moton has developed into one of the more underrated tackles in the league,” Linsey added. “He hasn’t played fewer than 1,000 offensive snaps or graded below 75.0 in any of the last four seasons.”
Although McCaffrey, Moore and Moton are certainly worthy of their sports, did Linsey get it right? Are a particular pass rusher’s ears burning?
Let us know in the comments if you agree.
