12. Cam Newton, QB, Panthers

The rest of the NFL clearly didn’t have an answer for Newton’s multi-faceted game last season, at least until Denver pressured the daylights out of him in the Super Bowl, forcing some rare mistakes. But the 2015 MVP played a daring and breathtaking style of quarterback and almost single-handedly carried the Carolina offense to the biggest stage in football. Newton might never match his career year statistically, with those 35 passing touchdowns and 10 more on the ground, but he’s a unique talent who should only stand to benefit this season by No. 1 receiver Kelvin Benjamin’s return from injury.

Senior NFL writer Don Banks joined SI in 2000 after 10 years on the beat covering the Vikings and Buccaneers. His Snap Judgments cap off every Sunday of every NFL season.