Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey was the No. 8 pick of the NFL draft and will take his dynamic skills to Carolina.
McCaffrey was the second Stanford player picked, following defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, who went to the 49ers with the No. 3 selection.
He's also the second of what could be an impressive group of Bay Area selections. As many as six players with connections to the region are considered likely or potential first rounders.
With his diverse skill set (runner, receiver and returner), McCaffrey, who left Stanford after his junior season, had been slotted into the top half of the first round by most mock drafts.
"McCaffrey is a jack-of-all-trades," ESPN analyst Jon Gruden said. "You have to use him creatively in the passing game _ that's where, to me, he's the best."
