Christian McCaffrey is expected to be the missing piece of the Super Bowl puzzle for the San Francisco 49ers. But GM John Lynch also knows there’s some risk involved

Munich – The San Francisco 49ers are going for the Super Bowl. All-in, as they say. Christian McCaffrey is expected to be the missing piece of the puzzle on the way to the big game.

The running back’s signing is a win athletically; as a dual-threat player, McCaffrey can help the Niners immediately.

That is, if he can stay fit. That is the big question mark behind the mega-trade. Because McCaffrey’s past years have been marked by strong numbers, but also by injuries and absences time and again.

San Francisco 49ers: Think before you act

General manager John Lynch makes no secret of the fact that the 49ers are gambling a bit with the trade. In return, they are sending the Carolina Panthers four picks for the upcoming drafts. A second-, third- and fourth-round pick in 2023, and a fifth-round pick in 2024.

“Everything is a gamble,” Lynch said. “Hopefully it’s a well thought out gamble where you put a lot of thought into it beforehand. I know we did,” said Lynch, who listed McCaffrey’s many assets.

“He has tremendous instincts. He can play with speed, he can play with power. He’s an outstanding football player,” Lynch said. The 26-year-old brings much more than the skills of a running back; he is an incredibly accomplished receiver, Lynch said.

That’s the point: especially as a running back, the risk of injury is high for understandable reasons. The 49ers have discussed all of that, Lynch stressed. “The last couple of years have been tough, but I felt like he got his health back this year.”

He’s experienced that in his own career, too, said Lynch, who, though, played safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos.

Christian McCaffrey on 49ers: “He meets all the criteria “

“Sometimes there are those ups and downs. You can never be completely sure, it’s out of our control, but we try to make the best decision possible,” Lynch said. And that’s where the GM keeps coming back to the merits of his new addition: “He’s an extremely versatile player. He’s an explosive football player, he’s an intelligent football player. I could go on and on. He meets all the criteria.”

That’s why it’s no surprise the 49ers are taking a chance. Because with a 3-3 record before Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco is at a crossroads. If it’s going to make the playoffs, the team needs a streak.

McCaffrey is ready to take his new team to another level. “I’ve been watching them for a long time, of course. In my opinion, they have the best running game and one of the most explosive offenses in the league,” McCaffrey said. “I think when you look at the squad and you look at all those guys … How could you not want to play here as an offensive weapon? “