The Panthers’ situation was clear before the trade deadline would not be willing deal with Chuba Hubbard. The fourth-year running back was on track to reach free agency this summer, but that’s no longer the case.

Hubbard and Panthers agree to four-year extension NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. The base value of the deal (currently official) is $33.2 million, but could increase by $5 million thanks to incentives. In terms of guaranteed compensation, Hubbard will receive a fully fixed $15 million.

The Athletic’s Joe Person predicted on Thursday that Hubbard will parlay what is shaping up to be the best of his career into a new contract before the end of the year for the 2024 season (subscription required). This has proven to be true and the 25-year-old Canadian driver will now be on the books until 2028. Hubbard has handled RB1 duties for most of the past two seasons. Miles Sandersand his 14.8 carries per game is slightly higher than last year’s workload. He averaged 5.0 yards per attempt in 2024, the best mark of his career.

Afterwards Christian McCaffrey When he was traded midway through the 2022 season, the door was opened for other Panthers to take on a larger workload in the backfield. Hubbard was the biggest beneficiary of the move, and his Oklahoma State team surpassed 1,100 rushing yards while scoring five touchdowns last year. Hubbard hit the second mark in nine games this season and could comfortably reach 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in 2024.

Sanders signed a four-year, $25.4 million deal on the open market last offseason, leading to high expectations from Carolina. But he hasn’t been able to keep up with them so far, and Hubbard’s success has relegated the former Eagle to a minor role in the offense. This could be especially true moving forward with a second-round rookie. Jonathon Brooks healthy now. None of Sanders’ base salaries in 2025 or 2026 are guaranteed, making him a logical cut candidate for the upcoming offseason.

With a base value of $8.3 million per season, Hubbard’s contract places him ninth among running backs in terms of average annual value. The former fourth-rounder is expected to continue scoring in the backfield now and in the future as the Panthers resolve their quarterback issues. Bryce YoungHis tenure with the team beyond 2024 remains uncertain, but stability in the backfield will be welcome.

It will be interesting to see how the Hubbard-Brooks duo shapes up now that they are both in the picture. Brooks’ rookie contract runs through 2027, so the Panthers’ situation at the running back position appears to be resolved for several years.