Christian McCaffrey could be gearing up for a big season. The running back amassed 1,880 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns last season, with 1,210 yards and 10 touchdowns coming after a trade from the Carolina Panthers to the San Francisco 49ers.
Just imagine what he can do with a full offseason to master head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense.
"OTAs were great, just to really understand the concepts and really, not just learn the running back position, but the whole offense," McCaffrey said during training camp, "and understand timing with what the quarterback sees and what Kyle sees, and getting timing right with the O-line, and [FB Kyle Juszczyk], and the tight ends. So, coming into camp, you're not playing catch up. So it's been great to be able to kind of not just learn the offense, but master it."
That's why predicting big things for the seventh-year player is easy. NFL.com is expecting something really big for McCaffrey. Thirty-four NFL Media analysts, including Steve Mariucci and Eric Edholm, projected the winners of the league's most prestigious individual awards. They predicted McCaffrey would earn NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors, with the 49ers running back leading the way with seven votes.
"This award often goes to the best non-QB," wrote Edholm. "If McCaffrey can stay healthy and produce at the same per-game level he did with the 49ers last season following the trade, he could push for a 2,000-yard all-purpose campaign with double-digit TDs. Teams have had all offseason to draw up better game plans for Brock Purdy, so McCaffrey could be an even more critical part of this offense in 2023."
The only other 49ers player to receive votes for an award was defensive end Nick Bosa, who earned two votes for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, an honor he earned last season. However, pass rusher Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys earned 19 votes, making him the favorite among the analysts.
The analysts predicted Robert Saleh of the New York Jets to win NFL Coach of the Year. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan earned one panel vote, from Adam Schein.