Christian McCaffrey is undoubtedly one of the best and most valuable players in the entire NFL.
It would almost be unfair and misleading to label McCaffrey as a running back considering all of the hats he wears for the Niners offense.
Coming off a nightmare loss in the Super Bowl, head coach Kyle Shanahan is eager to finally get over the hump and bring a Lombardi Trophy back to San Francisco.
Unfortunately, preparations for that triumphant run have begun without McCaffrey.
Some assume that a contract dispute is the cause for McCaffrey’s absence. Others think he’s getting married.
But as of now, no one knows the real truth to why McCaffrey is not participating in OTA’s.
ProFootballTalk doesn’t believe the absence is related to his contract status. Although the outlet pointed out that his contract may need addressing at some point in the near future.
The All-Pro running back is set to earn $11.8 million this season, including a $200,000 workout bonus (which may become in jeopardy).
Of course, his current contract was inherited by the 49ers when they acquired him from the Carolina Panthers.
On a side note, it’s safe to say that trade will go down as one of the most-lopsided in NFL history. Although a ring or two would go a long way towards amplifying that point.
McCaffrey’s contract, though large for a running back, falls short compared to some of his peers on the Ninenrs.
Notably, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle are earning more despite McCaffrey’s integral role as the centerpiece of the 49ers’ offense.
As great as players like Kittle, Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk (and Kyle Juszczyk!) are, most would agree that McCaffrey is the true straw that stirs the drink in San Francisco.
McCaffrey nearly won the NFL MVP Award last season as he gained over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and reached the endzone a remarkable 21 times.
He’ll be turning 28-years-old in a few weeks, and while we know the shelf-life on running backs is shorter than ever, it feels like McCaffrey has several elite years left in his tires.
Of course, it should be stated that OTA’s are voluntary. McCaffrey is not required to be in attendance.
Having said that, it’s notable that he not only participated in OTA’s last second but spoke at length about just how valuable they are for preparation and team-building.
What caused him to change his tune?
One thing is for sure – Shanahan is not worried one bit. (At least publicly.)
When questioned about McCaffrey’s absence, Shanahan remained composed, emphasizing the voluntary nature of the offseason workouts.
“No, just like everyone else, it is voluntary,” he stated. “I’m not too concerned about Christian. But no, he hasn’t been here.”
Shanahan further noted that McCaffrey was not the only player absent, with receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings also missing.
However, he refrained from speculating on the reasons behind their absence, reiterating the voluntary nature of the workouts.
“I’m not sure if that is the case on any of those guys,” Shanahan added. “I’m not throwing them all in who’s here for that reason, who’s not. But it is all voluntary, so we’ll see when it becomes mandatory.”
What are your thoughts on McCaffrey’s absense?
There used to be a time not too long ago when “voluntary” meant “mandatory” in the NFL.
Those times seem to be changing as more and more players are steering clear of workouts that they’re not required to be at.
However, should Shanahan and the Niners at least be a little concerned?
How many more years does McCaffrey have left at a truly elite level???