The Carolina Panthers signed Miles Sanders to a pretty big deal with a pretty big role in mind this offseason. But will that big deal and big role lead to too big of an expectation for the fifth-year running back?
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report recently predicted each team’s biggest bust for 2023. He points to Sanders for Carolina, who he says may be banking a bit too much on the 26-year-old:
The Panthers should temper expectations, though. Much of Sanders’ breakout season last year was due to one of the best offensive lines in football and positive game scripts. According to Player Profiler, Sanders enjoyed the best game script of anyone in the league and was eighth in run-blocking rating.
He didn’t rank nearly as high in the metrics that are more reflective of his running like juke rate (35th) or breakaway run rate (29th).
Sanders is a solid back with good blocking. But telling a fanbase that just saw Christian McCaffrey in his prime that Sanders is going to be a star is setting them up for disappointment.
Well, we know Sanders—like every other back in the league—isn’t McCaffrey. But he is, whether you want to credit Philly’s line or not, coming off a career campaign of 1,269 rushing yards and 11 scores.
Oh, and the hog mollies over in Carolina aren’t too shabby either. Just ask Sanders himself.
