Why Chuba Hubbard's New Contract Is a Healthy Move for the Panthers
The Carolina Panthers announced a new four-year contract extension Thursday for running back Chuba Hubbard, and the immediate response from many in the football world was understandable.
"But, why?"
After all, re-signing veteran running backs to second contracts has been going out of style in recent years, and didn't the Panthers just trade up in the second round to make Jonathon Brooks the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft?
Those things are true, but a deeper look at the state of the Panthers franchise reveals what a solid and important move this is for the team.
Most big contracts are about roster construction and positional value, hence the reluctance of most teams in recent years to give big money out to a position that has such a short shelf life in the modern NFL. But some deals have to be cultural decisions that benefit the overall health of your organization, and send the right message to the entire roster.
Hubbard is a versatile, three-down player who has been one of the few reliably bright spots for an otherwise lackluster Carolina offense over the past few seasons. He's a tough, hard-working player who does the dirty work of picking up blitzes and churning out the hard yards between the tackles to try and take pressure off his quarterbacks and the passing game.
He's also the kind of teammate who sets the right kind of example in the locker room, which is invaluable to a Panthers franchise that is still trying to find its footing and establish a healthy identity.
"We are excited to sign Chuba to an extension and keep him in Carolina," Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said in a statement (via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport). "He exemplifies everything we want on and off the field. Chuba is passionate about football, is productive and is committed to his teammates and winning."
Carolina still has high hopes for Brooks, obviously, but he's still working his way back to full strength after suffering a torn ACL late in the college football season last year. In the meantime, Hubbard has quietly been one of the most productive and consistent backs in the league this season. He currently ranks fifth in the NFL in rushing yards with 665 heading into Week 10, averaging five yards per carry with five rushing touchdowns.
The Detroit Lions just paid David Montgomery despite having traded up in the first round to select Jahmyr Gibbs in the top 12 just a year ago. That's working out pretty well for Detroit, so I doubt the Panthers had a problem with paying Hubbard, even with their recent draft investment with Brooks.
Hubbard is getting a well-deserved pay raise, but this isn't a move that's going to give the Panthers any sort of financial problem down the road. It only includes around $15 million in new guaranteed money, and Carolina's salary cap situation is only going to get better over the life of this deal.
The Panthers are currently carrying a whopping $66 million in dead cap hits this season, divided up between 41 different players. All of that will be off the books next year, except for a small fraction from the Jonathan Mingo trade. By 2026, the Panthers are looking at more than $156 million in cap space (all cap numbers via Over The Cap), making Hubbard's new numbers a drop in the bucket that won't prevent them from making any potential moves to help improve the roster elsewhere.
The Panthers have struggled as a franchise in so many ways over the past few years, but this move sends the right message to their team: If you're a good player and a great teammate, the kind of player who exemplifies the winning culture we're trying to establish here, we're going to reward you when the time comes, no matter what position you play.
For a team that's had so few of them to cheer about recently, that's a big win.
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