25 best Offensive Rookie of the Year winners ranked by playing career

25 best Offensive Rookie of the Year winners ranked by playing career: 19. Cam Newton – Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton is in a strange place in his career after he was cut by the New England Patriots this past offseason, but there’s no denying how good he was for his 10-year career. He won an MVP, took the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl after a 15-1 season, fought through major injuries to still play most of the games possible, and revamped his career multiple times to make up for said injuries.

Just think about the difference in player Newton was in Carolina compared to New England last season. He was basically a glorified running back, and he did it with consistency. Sure, last season was a mess, but replacing Tom Brady was always going to be a challenge.

Over his career, he was known for a rocket arm and an ability to make plays happen after everything broke down. He could scramble for the first down, or he could fake out defenders and throw a 50-yard pass. He was a weapon that was impossible to stop for a few seasons, although it was a fleeting talent. Newton’s injuries did slow down a career that could have lasted for well over a decade.

Newton’s place in history is hard to pinpoint. His peak was all time, but these last few seasons have been a hit to the legacy. Still, he can’t be taken off this list. His rookie year saw him throw for 4,000 yards. He kept it going after that and carved out a nice space in the NFL pantheon.