Patriots: New England’s roster on paper is better than Cam Newton’s MVP Panthers

The New England Patriots have more talent than the Panthers did during Cam Newton’s best year.

Are the Patriots getting a motivated Cam Newton? Check. He wasn’t exactly treated with respect during his final, injury-marred years in Carolina.

Are the Patriots getting a fresh Cam Newton? For sure. After a full year in the lab, we’re not exactly concerned about his feet or shoulder.

Are the Patriots getting an MVP-level Cam Newton? After extended “time off” and with a roster and scheme around him superior to anything he embraced in Carolina, it’s at least worth arguing.

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The much-maligned Patriots receiving corps last season consisted of Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu Sr., and a rookie N’Keal Harry. All three are back, with Sanu and Harry healthy and already linked up with their QB to establish a rhythm in private. Newton’s also got safety blanket TEs in the form of rookies Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, though he could use a veteran like David Njoku (who the Pats could obtain with their newfound cap space).

Speaking of tight ends, the only standout weapon on the 2015 Panthers was Greg Olsen. Beyond that, Newton was throwing to nobodies. Philly Brown, Ted Ginn Jr., and Ed Dickson got the lion’s share of the other receptions, with a past-his-prime Jonathan Stewart in the backfield. Newton’s success was all about scheme, and we can guarantee Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels will scheme for him at a higher level this time around.

They wouldn’t have signed him if they didn’t have such a plan.

As for the defense, New England’s secondary outranks Carolina’s by leaps and bounds. It took a transcendent debut from Josh Norman to make the Panthers relevant, whereas the Patriots have Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore leading their corps.

At linebacker, Carolina holds the edge, of course, with Luke Kuechly captaining things alongside Thomas Davis. But though the Patriots have been depleted in that department this offseason, rookie Josh Uche should step in right away and remain a tackling machine, and his old Michigan classmate in Chase Winovich is poised for a massive (and well-deserved) increase in snaps.

If you don’t believe in Winovich and Uche, the Patriots merely have a much better roster than the 2015 Panthers. If those two push the linebacking corps forward, then the Pats blow Carolina out of the water.

Enjoy it, Super Cam.