The Carolina Panthers were one of the few teams to dive into the running back market this offseason. They came away from free agency with Miles Sanders, who signed a four-year, $25 million deal with the Panthers, $13 million of which is guaranteed.

Given how ice-cold the running back market was in free agency this year, that is a very good deal for Miles Sanders to have signed. He receives some long-term security, something Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard were robbed of with their teams placing the franchise tag on them.

Heading to the Panthers is a bold decision for Miles Sanders as well as he left the defending NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Sanders was an integral part of the team’s offense last season, rushing for a career-high 1,259 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl nomination as well.

Despite how well he played during the regular season, Miles Sander was interestingly phased out of the offense during the Super Bowl. He had only eight touches in the game for 17 yards, while Kenneth Gainwell had 11 and Boston Scott had four. Quarterback Jalen Hurts was their leading rusher with 15 attempts for 70 yards and three touchdowns.

Hurts was rolling, so it made some sense that the Eagles relied on him so heavily. But, that usage in the Super Bowl seemed to play a part in Miles Sanders opting to move on this offseason in free agency.

“Last game of the season? For all of the marbles? Everybody can answer that question,” Sanders said, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press. “If they put themselves in my shoes, would they be happy? I don’t want to make headlines, [but] if it does, I don’t care.

“I can get into that another day, maybe,” the 26-year-old back added. “Maybe you should ask them why I’m moving here.”

We don’t know what occurred behind the scenes, but there was seemingly a disconnect somewhere between Miles Sanders and the Eagles by the time free agency opened up. Losing him hurt at first, but general manager Howie Roseman did an excellent job of filling that void in the lineup.

In free agency, the Eagles signed Rashaad Penny at a fraction of the cost of Miles Sanders. They further bolstered the backfield by acquiring D’Andre Swift from the Detroit Lions during the 2023 NFL Draft. Those two will join Gainwell and Scott in one of the deepest, most talented backfield depth charts in the NFL with Miles Sanders now in Carolina.