Despite the Carolina Panthers being in the middle of a difficult season, running back Chuba Hubbard has been one of the very few bright spots for the team. They are rewarding him for his efforts.
Hubbard has agreed to terms on a four-year, $33.2 million extension with the Panthers, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday. Hubbard’s contract includes a maximum value of $37.2 million, with $15 million in new, fully guaranteed money, according to Rapoport.
The organization later officially confirmed they had reached a deal with the rising star.
Carolina’s second-year defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said extending Hubbard was not just great for the offensive of the ball, but “great for our team.”
“This guy epitomizes what you look for in a football player and a teammate,” he said. “He’s a great locker room guy. He does things the right way. He’s arguably, probably not even arguably, the hardest worker on our team.
“I mean, this guy is relentless in what he does and his approach.”
Hubbard is entering Week 10 as a top-five rusher, ranking fifth in the NFL with 665 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. He is averaging five yards per carry in 2024, serving as the bell cow back and only consistent producer for one of the NFL’s most inept offenses, even though their coach, Dave Canales, has an offensive background.
The deal was announced less than one day after the Panthers activated second-round pick Jonathon Brooks to the 53-man roster.
Embed from Getty ImagesPanthers’ offensive coordinator Brad Idzik said Hubbard “embodies a lot of what we want to do here, culturally and on the offensive side.” Idzik has no concerns about blending Hubbard in with Brooks.
“We just see another good back that we can add to the fold and Chuba is going to do a great job of leading the charge.” he said.
A unanimous All-American at Oklahoma State University, Hubbard joined the Panthers with a fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft. In his first two NFL seasons, Hubbard filled a depth-focused role behind All-Pro combo back Christian McCaffrey, seeing a significant increase in carries as a rookie only after McCaffrey was sidelined due to injury. It was the same old song early in 2022 until the Panthers traded McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers, at which point Hubbard became a committee back with D’Onta Foreman.
Carolina has spent the last several years trying to pair Hubbard with another back, replacing Foreman with former Eagles standout Miles Sanders in 2023, but Hubbard eventually emerged as their best option, rushing for 902 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. He has separated himself from Sanders in 2024, proving to be the Panthers’ best option in an offense that could definitely use a jolt of energy and consistency from one of its skilled position players. Hubbard also could have a new backfield mate as second-round pick Brooks could make his debut this Sunday against the Giants.
Hubbard’s new deal cements his role in Carolina for the foreseeable future, and does so at a relatively team-friendly deal. At an average of $8.3 million per season, Hubbard ranks ahead of Chicago’s D’Andre Swift and Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, but behind New England’s Rhamondre Stevenson.
As Carolina attempts to sort out their roster and map out their course forward, they know at least one contributor, Hubbard, will be a big part of their plans after securing his future.
The Panthers, 2-7 heading into Sunday’s game against the New York Giants in Munich, Germany, are expected to make a run at extending the contract of cornerback Jaycee Horn, a key cog on defense.
