The Kansas City Chiefs will be without Isiah Pacheco’s services for the foreseeable future, which means they could trade for a short-term starter like Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard. A fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Oklahoma State product made a name for himself over the past few years as a high-end backup who can handle starting duties at a moment’s notice.
Through two weeks, Chuba Hubbard has been the lone bright spot in Carolina’s offense, averaging 4.9 yards per carry for a team that simply cannot throw the football. Last year, he stole the starting job from big-money signee Miles Sanders and picked up right where he left off in the previous season. While he’s no superstar, Hubbard can play on all three downs and could be an ideal fit for Kansas City.
Panthers, Chiefs Could Agree to Chuba Hubbard Trade
Why Kansas City Could Do It
The Chiefs entered the season with one of the shallowest running back depth charts in football. While Isiah Pacheco is a reliable starter with an aggressive, hard-nosed style of play, they didn’t have much behind him. Samaje Perine was a reliable receiving back in his day, but it’s worrisome that he couldn’t carve out a role on a bad Denver Broncos team. Undrafted free agent Carson Steele, meanwhile, played well in the preseason but has yet to prove himself as a high-volume option against regular season competition. Anyone who’s watched Bo Nix knows that preseason success doesn’t always translate, which is why a Chuba Hubbard trade makes so much sense.
Chuba Hubbard won’t need to be a three-down back if the Chiefs trade for him, but he can ensure nobody sees more touches than they’re capable of handling. Additionally, he’s probably the best option readily available for Kansas City. The Chiefs are reportedly bringing in Kareem Hunt for a visit, but the former rushing leader is nowhere near the player he used to be. Hubbard has more in his tank and could be a welcome addition to this offense while Pacheco is on the mend.
Why the Panthers Could Do It
Of course, it takes two to tango, and the Panthers will need a good reason to trade Chuba Hubbard. Unfortunately for everyone involved, that reason will spend Week 3 watching Andy Dalton from the sidelines. Head coach Dave Canales benched Bryce Young following two disastrous performances, which means Carolina will begin their search for a franchise quarterback anew in 2025. A new rebuild means an overhaul for the existing players, and the Panthers should try to maximize the value of every player currently on the roster.
Now entering the final year of his contract, the Panthers could trade Chuba Hubbard for whatever immediate draft capital they can get. The Panthers already have their running back of the future in second-round rookie Jonathon Brooks, and Miles Sanders is good enough to hold down the job while the Texas product works his way back to health. By benching Young this early, the Panthers are ripping off the band-aid and embracing a rebuild. With that in mind, it only makes sense for them to part ways with a player like Hubbard, even if they could only get a late-round pick for his services.
Main Photo: Bob Donnan – USA Today Sports
