C.J. Anderson has signed a one-year bridge contract with the Carolina Panthers on Monday the team announced. Anderson has been apart of the Denver Broncos organization since going undrafted in 2013. Denver signed the rookie running back out of Cal. Anderson has put up quality numbers for the mile-high organization in his five seasons in the National Football League. According to ESPN's David Newton, Anderson will compete with Cameron Artis-Payne for the second spot behind the Panthers 2017 first round pick, Christian McCaffrey.

The fit in Carolina.

It was coincidental timing that the Carolina Panthers could not foresee coming this late after the NFL draft. The Panthers released long-time running back Jonathan Stewart after 10 seasons with the team on the last day of February. Move ahead to nearly two months later and Denver gives Carolina a potential replacement for Stewart, who signed a two-year contract with the New York Giants. The Panthers found themselves quite content that they could find a player of Anderson's caliber ready and available to them at this point in the offseason.

"He's such a talented runner," Carolina Panthers General Manager Marty Hurney said as reported by Joseph Person of The Charlotte Observer.

"He's got great vision, plays with great pad level and runs with excellent leverage and gets the extra yards after contact," Hurney added.

The Panthers ranked fourth in regular season rushing during 2017. They averaged 131.4 yards per game. Cam Newton, the Panthers quarterback, led the Carolina team with 754 yards on the ground.

With the likes of the youthful McCaffrey, Artis-Payne, and even the spontaneous QB Newton, Anderson found a fit that he thought would boost his chance at success in 2018.

"The style that Carolina likes to play definitely fits my style and my game," Anderson told reporters on a conference call.

Anderson also complimented the Panther's "Keep Pounding" team slogan.

The pro-bowl running back thinks that Carolina is a "championship caliber team, a championship caliber organization," according to ESPN.

When does he start?

Anderson is expected to join the Panthers offseason drills on Tuesday.

He is not thinking about whether this is a "prove-it" kind of deal. Anderson is focusing on the season ahead.

"I know I'm gonna take care of business and do the things I can potentially do to make the team a better football team and try to win championships," Anderson said.

Anderson, in five NFL seasons, has rushed 3,051 yards and 20 touchdowns. He's garnered 103 receptions for 859 yards which amounted to four receiving touchdowns.
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