Cam Newton was hit and harassed throughout the 2017 season, prompting some moves by the Carolina Panthers in the offseason.
In addition to a new left tackle, Newton will also have some added weapons at his disposal that will help diversify the offense. The Panthers selected running back Christian McCaffrey and receiver Curtis Samuel in this year's draft to accomplish just that.
"We need to make sure we protect our QB and put playmakers around him," head coach Ron Rivera said on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Monday. "McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel help do that."
In the past, Newton has doubled as the team's franchise quarterback and its X-factor as a rusher. In an effort to limit the damage he takes, the team added to its core weapons of Greg Olsen, Kelvin Benjamin, and Devin Funchess.
"We have to be judicious when we do use (Newton) as a runner," Rivera said. "The best thing is getting the ball out and downfield."
