Report: Christian McCaffrey 'resets' RB market in new contract extension with 49ers

Christian McCaffrey reportedly reset the running back market in the NFL with his new contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

McCaffrey’s massive new deal over the next two years will pay him nearly $20 million a season. Not too shabby for the all-purpose back.

Since his trade from the Carolina Panthers, McCaffrey’s career went back on the upswing, helping the 49ers become one of the dominant forces in the NFC.

“Reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey once again has reset the RB market, signing a two-year extension with the 49ers, averaging $19 million per year, per sources,” Schefter wrote on Twitter. “McCaffrey will receive an additional $8 million over what he was scheduled to make in the first two years while adding $24 million in guarantees. The deal was negotiated and confirmed by WME Football.”

McCaffrey won the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award in 2023, helping San Francisco to a Super Bowl appearance.

McCaffrey enjoyed a dominant 2023-2024 campaign. He showed why he was one of the best players in the league yet again, rushing for 1,459 yards (career-high) and 14 touchdowns. As a receiver, he hauled in 564 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Over the course of his career, McCaffrey has 1,297 carries for 6,158 yards, 52 touchdowns, 4.8 yards per carry, 509 catches, 4,320 receiving yards and 29 touchdown receptions.

McCaffrey is a three-time First-Team All-Pro (2019 for two positions and 2023) as well as Second-Team back in 2018. He was traded from the Panthers to the 49ers in October of 2022, adding a lot to the San Francisco offense.

McCaffrey is a large reason why the 49ers’ offense went from great to elite with the surrounding talent.

He was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers out of Stanford. While in college, McCaffrey was a Heisman finalist but won the 2015 AP College Football Player of the Year award. He also won the Paul Hornung Award that season.

As a member of the Class of 2014, McCaffrey was a four-star recruit out of Littleton (Colo.) Valor Christian, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 14 running back in the class and the No. 96 overall prospect in the class.