Carolina Panthers all-time Mount Rushmore

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 12: Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers runs with the ball after a catch in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Bank of America Stadium on January 12, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 08: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers with the ball during their game against the Los Angeles Rams at Bank of America Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

Carolina Panthers Mount Rushmore: QB Cam Newton

He was the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and served the Carolina Panthers well for the most part in his nine seasons with the organization. University of Auburn quarterback Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy and a national champion the year before he entered professional football.

These days, he’s a man looking for a football team as the Panthers released him this offseason after injuries limited his effectiveness during the second half of 2018 and caused him to miss the final 14 contests this past season.

With him at the controls, Carolina won three straight NFC South titles from 2013-15, reached Super Bowl 50 and after a down year were back in the playoffs in 2017. In ’15, Newton was the league’s Most Valuable Player. He overcame a relatively slow start that year and finished with 35 scores through the air (10 interceptions) and 10 more on the ground as Ron Rivera’s team reached Super Bowl 50.

During his team with the Panthers, Newton threw for 29,041 yards and 182 scores with 108 picks. There were also an impressive 4,806 rushing yards and 58 TDs as well. It will be interesting to see where he winds up sooner than later but the mark he made in Carolina can’t be undersold.

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