The 2020 Panthers don’t have a lot of high-profile names on their roster. There are still a few stars remaining, though. Case in point: two current Carolina players have made Forbes’ annual list of the 100 highest-paid athletes in the world.
Running back Christian McCaffrey came in at No. 63 on the list. Forbes says he’s getting $23.5 million in salary this year on top of another $3 million in endorsements. Linebacker Shaq Thompson also made the cut at No. 85. He is also earning $23.5 million from the Panthers and will make $.15 million in endorsements.
Both players recently signed four-year contract extensions. Thompson’s included a $16 million signing bonus, which makes up the bulk of his earnings for this year. McCaffrey’s new deal had a $21.5 million signing bonus. McCaffrey and Thompson’s cap hits for 2020 are $7,794,782 and $7,200,000, according to Over the Cap.
From a team-building perspective, it’s not ideal that two of the Panthers’ highest-paid players are a running back and a linebacker.
They’re both good players, but generally speaking the smart, analytic-minded teams tend to prioritize positions that impact the passing game. That means paying quarterbacks, wide receivers, offensive tackles, pass rushers and cornerbacks. Hopefully the team’s cap priorities will change the longer coach Matt Rhule is around to exert his influence. The Athletic’s report that Rhule wanted to trade down in the first round of the draft may be a sign that he understands how to build a competitive modern team.
As of yet, there’s no word if general manager Marty Hurney’s contract will be extended.
