Is Christian McCaffrey Hinting at a Jersey Number Change?
The NFL eased up on jersey number restrictions this offseason by allowing players to choose from a wider range of numbers.
The expanded jerseys will allow running backs, tight ends, fullbacks, H-backs, and wide receivers to wear numbers 1-49 and 80-89; defensive backs can choose from 1-49; linebackers 1-59 and 90-99; offensive linemen 50-79; and defensive linemen 50-79 and 90-99. QBs, kickers, and punters will remain in 1-19.
Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey currently wears No. 22 but posted a picture on Instagram with a photoshop version of him in a No. 5 Panthers jersey - the number he wore during his time in college at Stanford.
It certainly seems like McCaffrey is considering the switch but it would be a pretty expensive decision if he decides to follow through with it. Any returning NFL player that makes a number change will have to buy up the entire inventory of jerseys from the jersey number they are switching out of. For a player of McCaffrey's caliber, that could be roughly $1 million based on a recent estimate of what Vikings RB Dalvin Cook would have had to pay.
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