Surprise Carolina Panthers pick to win 2019 NFL MVP

One Carolina Panthers player surprises as potential NFL MVP candidate in 2019.

Each week 53 active players will suit up for the Carolina Panthers beginning with a season opening matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at home. While odds are this game will be long forgotten by late December, for an NFL MVP – every game matters.

Cam Newton is the only Panthers recipient of the award in franchise history after his terrific campaign during the 2015 season. Leading Carolina to a near perfect record prior to the playoffs, Newton passed for 3,837 yards, rushed for 636 yards and was responsible for 45 total team touchdowns (35 passsing).

Coupled with 15 wins, it was enough to notch Newton another monumental achievement and while he too is considered a contender for the award in 2019 – it wouldn’t come as a surprise should he repeat. ESPN staff writer Bill Barnwell scoured NFL rosters and compiled a list of 233 candidates for the prestigious honor based on historical facts and figures, including a few Panthers and one big surprise.

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Two other teammates find themselves on the list, including running back Christian McCaffrey. A versatile back who can attack defenses on the ground and through the air, he’s listed in a category described as “workhorse running backs”. After bursting onto the scene during his sophomore season, the future is bright for McCaffrey but it wouldn’t be a stretch to see him hoist the hardware.

However, the other Panthers player who Barnwell believes could win the NFL MVP award is admittedly a reach. Kicker Graham Gano is listed among the candidates but this also includes every other starting kicker in the league. Having previously seen a specialist win the award in 1982, all potential options were covered for a thorough examination of possible winners.

While Newton likely stands the best chance of any player in the Panthers locker room, simply by playing quarterback, seeing Graham Gano with the trophy would indicate Carolina had an extremely successful season.

Filling a resume with a perfect season of extra points and field goal attempts, including multiple game winners in route to a divisional championship would be a quality start to at least being included in the NFL MVP conversation.