Through five weeks, Chuba Hubbard has 53 carries, zero explosive runs, and zero missed tackles forced.
Then there’s Rico Dowdle, the spark that’s changed everything.
In Week 5 alone, Dowdle put up 234 total yards (the most by any player this season), forced 10 missed tackles, and ripped off four runs of 15+ yards. He then followed that up with another 200 yard performance against Dallas.
That contrast says it all, and it might push the Carolina Panthers toward a decision no one expected: putting Hubbard on the trade block.
Why Trading Hubbard Makes Sense
GettyPanthers RB Rico Dowdle
Hubbard is only 26 years old and under contract for three more seasons at a manageable cap hit, a combination that gives him legitimate appeal across the league. In a market where running back value changes weekly, that’s rare.
Hubbard’s breakout 2024 campaign (1,195 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns, and 4.8 yards per carry) proved he can carry a full workload. For a team looking for stability at the position, that’s gold.
Meanwhile, Rico Dowdle is playing on a one year deal and looks like a younger, cheaper version of everything Hubbard was last season (only more explosive). Dowdle has posted consecutive 200 yard games, forcing 14 missed tackles in that span and giving the Panthers’ offense a jolt it hasn’t had all year.
If the Panthers believe Dowdle can sustain that level of play, extending him now while his price is still reasonable makes sense. Moving Hubbard, meanwhile, would clear future cap space and potentially net a mid-round draft pick from a running back needy team.
And this wouldn’t leave the depth chart bare. Behind Dowdle, rookie Trevor Etienne and second year back Jonathon Brooks give Carolina two developmental runners who can handle spot work and grow into larger roles.
Trading Hubbard wouldn’t be a panic move. It would be proactive roster management, turning a luxury into an asset before it depreciates.
Teams That Should Be Calling
GettyPanthers RB Chuba Hubbard
If Carolina does test the market, there won’t be a shortage of interested teams.
Chicago Bears: D’Andre Swift is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, and the Bears’ run game ranks near the bottom of the league. With Ben Johnson at head coach (a man who loves a good running back), Hubbard might spark his interest.
Los Angeles Chargers: With Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris both sidelined, the Chargers need another RB.
Tennessee Titans: Tony Pollard hasn’t delivered, and with a rookie quarterback in place, Tennessee needs a dependable back to carry the offense. The Titans new head coach whoever that may be will probably be looking to change the culture, Hubbard could do just that.
Chuba Hubbard earned his reputation as a workhorse and his place in Carolina’s rebuild. But the NFL moves fast, and the emergence of Rico Dowdle might have accelerated the Panthers’ next roster pivot.
Hubbard’s story in Carolina doesn’t have to end bitterly. It can end smartly, with the team cashing in on a valuable asset while the rest of the league still sees him as a starter.
Because as much as Panthers fans may love Chuba Hubbard, Carolina’s front office has to love the future more.
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