49ers coach Kyle Shanahan had doubts regarding Christian McCaffrey
San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York confirmed that head coach Kyle Shanahan had reservations about acquiring All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. In October 2022, the 49ers proposed a trade to the Carolina Panthers, offering four draft picks for McCaffrey, a move that carries risk due to the injury-prone nature of many running backs and the availability of talented and cost-effective options in college football.
Many experts and team management teams are cautious when it comes to trading for running backs. During a media briefing, York mentioned that Shanahan believed the asking price was steep for a running back, while he and John Lynch felt it was appropriate for Christian.
York also stated their preference to prevent McCaffrey from joining the LA Rams, sharing, “We were hesitant given what we were giving up, but we believe we now have one of the top players, if not the best, in the NFL on our roster.”
Jed York reflects on the Christian McCaffrey trade, said Kyle Shanahan thought it might be 'a lot' to give up for a RB, but that he, John Lynch didn't:
"Collectively, it was, 'Do you want him to go to LA?
We did give up a lot, but I think we have one of the best, if not the… pic.twitter.com/21M8qZ70Xi
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) February 1, 2024
Interestingly, McCaffrey made his debut for San Francisco against the Kansas City Chiefs. Since that game, the 49ers have shown improvement as a team, and McCaffrey himself has delivered the most outstanding performances of his career.
In the year 2023, McCaffrey achieved 1459 rushing yards and secured 14 touchdowns, setting the team’s single-season touchdown record. He is widely regarded as one of the top players in the NFL outside of the quarterback position and is considered pivotal to San Francisco’s aspirations for a Super Bowl victory
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