We must be living in “The Twilight Zone.” The Panthers did something right.
On Thursday, Carolina extended running back Chuba Hubbard’s contract, keeping the fourth-year back with the franchise through his age-29 season in 2028.
Hubbard, a 2021 fourth-round pick (No. 126 overall), was scheduled to become a free agent after the season, but as one of the Panthers’ few bright spots, the front office was wise to lock him into a long-term deal before he reached the open market.
Per NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Hubbard received a four-year, $33.2 million contract with $15 million guaranteed.
This season, Hubbard has 133 carries, 665 yards (five yards per carry) and five touchdowns. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, he averages 1.11 rush yards over expected per attempt, which ranks seventh in the league among backs with at least 50 rush attempts.
Hubbard gains more yards than expected on 49.6 percent of his carries, tied with 49ers running back Jordan Mason for the league’s second-highest rate.
He had two touchdowns in Week 9’s 23-22 home win against the Saints, including the winning 16-yard score with 2:18 remaining.
Hubbard’s extension puts him in the top 10 of running back contracts.
Per Spotrac, his $33.2 million contract is the sixth-largest by a running back and directly trails Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (four years, $36 million).
This season, Stevenson has appeared in eight games and has 114 carries, 438 yards (3.8 yards per carry) and six touchdowns.
The average annual value (AAV) of Hubbard’s contract is $8.3 million, which ranks ninth, between Bears running back D’Andre Swift ($8 million) and Texans running back Joe Mixon ($8.5 million).
Swift has 125 carries, 505 yards (four years per carry) and four touchdowns in 2024, while Mixon has 126 carries, 609 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and six touchdowns.
The Panthers (2-7) have several issues, but Hubbard’s extension means running back isn’t one of them.
Carolina has uncertainty at quarterback, with 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young benched in Week 3 for veteran journeyman Andy Dalton.
Young has started the past two games after Dalton (thumb) was injured in a motor vehicle accident, and head coach Dave Canales told reporters earlier this week that he’ll start for a third consecutive game against the Giants in Munich on Sunday.
Carolina also has the league’s worst defense, ranking last in points (32.6) and yards (391.9) allowed per game.
The Panthers are in disarray, but they’re set at running back. Now, they must figure out everything else.
