Why the Panthers Had to Pay QB Cam Newton Like a Superstar

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is 26 years old, just entering the prime of his NFL career. He plays the most important position on the field. He's proved that he can produce big numbers, that he has elite talent, that he can win and that he can lead.

You pay a guy like that, period. You build a team around him. You make all your plans for the future taking into account his developmental curve.

This was an easy decision for the Panthers, a layup. They had to hand Newton big money, and as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday, they now have:

I understand that's a lot of cash for a fifth-year player who still shows signs of inconsistency and struggles at times with decision-making. His tape is far from perfect. Turn on the game against the Green Bay Packers last season and you can see that.

But he's also not a finished product, given his high ceiling and unique mix of size and freakish athleticism.

Newton is built like a defensive end, and I guarantee he isn't easy to game-plan for with his ability to extend plays and hurt you on designed quarterback runs.

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This is an example of the flexibility Newton gives the Panthers—and what opposing defenses have to prepare for throughout the week. It's a quarterback "power" play. The Panthers pick up an extra blocker with an offset running back, pull the backside guard and let Newton do the rest. And he does the rest.

However, Newton has progressed as a pocket passer, and there are many positives on the tape when you watch how he manages his reads and uses his live arm to test defensive secondaries.

"When Newton came in, he was the first to become successful with the read-option series," a former NFL defensive coach told me this week. "Now that the novelty has worn off, he's more of a typical quarterback with the arm strength and accuracy."

Take a look at this throw against the Seattle Seahawks—a prime example of what Newton can do when a play breaks down and the pocket starts to collapse:

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Newton feels pressure, extends the pocket and puts his eyes up the field to find Kelvin Benjamin on a crossing route against Richard Sherman. That's good football right there.

Here's one more:

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Newton showcases his arm strength and awareness on this red-zone "fade-stop" play against the New Orleans Saints. He gives a quick glance to the free safety before throwing a rope to Benjamin for six points.

Notice how he delivers the ball to Benjamin's upfield shoulder, away from the defender's leverage. That's the kind of ball placement we need to see from Newton regularly. It's a heck of a throw, and it gives the wide receiver a chance to make a play and eliminate the defensive back from the equation.

With Newton now under contract, the Panthers need to take a more aggressive approach to adding big boys up front and make a consistent effort to find playmakers in the passing game.

The Panthers did draft Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess in the second round this year. He's a receiver with the length and straight-line speed that can create matchup problems for opponents.

With Funchess and Benjamin, the Panthers now have two players with size and speed outside the numbers, which should be an asset on third downs, inside breaking routes and in the red zone. And they have one of the most underrated pass-catching tight ends in the NFL in Greg Olsen, who can work the middle of the field and produce on play-action concepts.

It comes down to the offensive line. If the Panthers want to control the tempo on offense like they do on defense, they must protect their quarterback and limit the number of hits he takes.

I believe in Newton. This is a guy who graded out higher this past season than Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson and Ryan Tannehill, according to Pro Football Focus, and the tape supports that.

I also know there are a lot of opinions about Newton's ability to take the next step at the position.

But as an organization, you take care of a young quarterback like this, especially given the lack of depth at the position around the league. How many teams are desperate to find a quarterback this talented?

It's no different than the deal the Dolphins gave Tannehill or the cash both Luck and Wilson will see soon.

With a group of journeymen on the streets every offseason that won't win you a title and an inconsistent rookie pipeline coming into the league, the thought of the Panthers finding a better option at quarterback doesn't add up.

That's why I wasn't the least bit surprised when news broke of the contract extension for Newton. He's the best option, the only option, for this football team.

Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL national lead writer for Bleacher Report.