5 best first-round NFL Draft picks in Carolina Panthers history
By Noah Bryce
Cam Newton – Former Carolina Panthers QB
- No. 1 overall (2011)
SuperCam. Cam Newton earned that moniker for a reason. During his time with the Carolina Panthers, he always had at least one eye-popping play per game and brought much-needed excitement to a franchise that had been struggling in obscurity.
After a rocky college career, Newton was taken with the only No. 1 overall pick in Panthers history and paid immediate dividends. Passing for over 400 yards in his opening game and earning Offensive Rookie of the Year with the highest yardage total of his career at 4,051 passing yards.
Then came 2015, and oh what a year it was.
Newton led the high-flying Panthers offense to its second Super Bowl with a staggering 35 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions, the highest and lowest marks for both stats in his career. Stats that earned him NFL MVP honors. All of this after multiple fractures to his back following a car wreck in 2014.
Throwing wasn’t the only thing Newton brought to the table either. With his big frame and strong legs, the quarterback ran over defenses all the time, especially in short-yardage situations or at the goal line. You could always count on him getting those couple of essential yards to keep a drive alive.
Even with the rather unceremonious end to his time with the Panthers, Newton will always be remembered for what he brought to Carolina. An excitement and skill that attracted many fans to the team that still support the team to this day.