NFL Quarterback Most Likely To Get First Ring

Several quarterbacks around the NFL have won a Super Bowl ring. This isn’t about them. It’s about who among those other starters are likeliest to get their first in 2016?

There are plenty of interesting options. Matthew Stafford, easily the best quarterback the Detroit Lions have had in decades, has performed well in a number of seasons with multiple 4,000-yard passing campaigns. Twice he’s made the playoffs but has been undone by poor defensive efforts or terrible non-calls by the refs. Perhaps this could finally be his year, even without Megatron. Or maybe Andrew Luck? He was in the AFC championship in 2014 but suffered an unfortunate injury last season. He’s back healthy and has an improved offense around him, especially up front.

Of course one can’t forget Carson Palmer. Once the pride and joy of Cincinnati, then a discarded former star in Oakland, he has resurrected his career with the Arizona Cardinals and got them to the AFC championship last season. All the pieces are in place, The final step is there for taking, right? Not according to NFL.com columnist Gil Brandt, who believes this is finally the year that Cam Newton ascends to the throne.

"“Newton took a huge leap forward in his career-long upward trajectory last season, serving as the do-it-all offensive power behind Carolina’s 15-1 record and trip to Super Bowl 50. If he were younger and less experienced, or if he didn’t have outstanding work habits, I might be worried about a regression in 2016, but I fully expect the reigning NFL MVP to get even better in Year 6. He needs to improve his ability to throw quick slants and checkdowns and to complete more passes, but he’ll be working with a better receiver corps (with Kelvin Benjamin healthy again) and has an excellent chance to win Super Bowl LI.”"

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Indeed it’s a scary thought knowing Newton dominated the league last season without what was easily his best wide receiver. With the 6’5″ monster Benjamin back, there’s no telling what he might do for an encore. The tricky part is the defense. On paper it should still be good with a star-studded core of Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Kawann Short and Kurt Coleman. The sticking point is how it will adjust to life without All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman. At present it doesn’t look like they have anybody on the roster capable of replacing him.

This is not to say his loss will completely cripple the Carolina Panthers in 2016, but it certainly doesn’t make their job easier. After all, it’s not like they won the Super Bowl when they made it last year. If Cam Newton really is to become the next quarterback to get his first ring, it will have to be through his maturation as a passer. There is no doubting he can do it, but the NFC isn’t going to make it easy.

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