49ers' Christian McCaffrey And Brock Purdy Could’ve Been Panthers Teammates, If Team Listened To Matt Rhule

Published|Updated

What could have been? 

That’s the question that Carolina Panthers fans are likely asking themselves after former coach Matt Rhule revealed his 2022 draft plans. 

Rhule, now the head coach at Nebraska, contends that San Francisco’s Brock Purdy was on his wish list ahead of the ’22 draft, but the powers that be weren’t as interested in the then-Iowa State prospect.

"I think Brock Purdy is an amazing player because I played against him at Iowa State," Rhule said Wednesday, per HuskerOnline. "When I was in the draft room at Carolina, I brought his name up. I said, ‘Hey guys, he should be on the draft board.’ I got vetoed on that one."

Sure ya did, coach. And I wanted to pour my life savings into Zoom stock in February of 2020. 

Matt Rhule seems like he wanted Brock Purdy in Carolina. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Had Panthers brass listened to Rhule (assuming you believe his take), the team’s offense, or at least their backfield, would’ve looked an awful lot like San Francisco’s current Super Bowl squad.

Until October of Purdy’s rookie campaign (’22), Carolina’s do-everything running back was Christian McCaffrey. Despite multiple All-Pro seasons, Carolina shipped McCaffrey to the Bay Area for a bundle of draft picks and a pile of losses. Once there, CMC teamed with Purdy, who in just six months had gone from the NFL Draft's Mr. Irrelevant to quarterbacking a championship contender.

Instead of Purdy, the 2022 Panthers started games with either Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold or PJ Walker under center. After McCaffrey’s October exit, household names like D’Onta Foreman, Chuba Hubbard, and Raheem Blackshear were toting the rock for Carolina.

Carolina Panthers Backfield Could Have Been Brock Purdy And Christian McCaffrey

Meanwhile, San Francisco, led by Purdy and CMC, reached last season’s NFC title game and are in Vegas as this weekend’s Super Bowl LVIII favorites.

Carolina, on the other hand, finished both the ’22 and ’23 seasons without Purdy, McCaffrey, or many wins. After 7 dubs a season ago, their 2-15 record this year was the league’s worst.

But who needs that pair of Pro Bowlers when you’ve got Bryce Young and Miles Sanders, right?

Then again, maybe they should’ve kept CMC and drafted Purdy. That would’ve Rhuled. 

                                                                                                                             Follow along on X: @OhioAF

Tags
Written by

Anthony is a former high school basketball intramural champion who played a leading role in creating two offspring. He spends his weekends hoping for an MTV Rock N' Jock revival. Follow him on X (@OhioAF).