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The Jets return from their bye week to take on another bye-week-rested team, the Carolina Panthers. As we have asked regarding the Jets’ opponent the past few weeks, we’ll ask again. Which Panther would you most want on the Jets?
For me, there’s very little thinking to do with this decision. It has to be Cam Newton. He has his ups and downs and is by no means a perfect player, or even a top 5 quarterback at the moment, but Newton is simply one of the most talented players in the league who can be a surefire MVP when everything is clicking. At just 28 years old, this one seems like a no-brainer.
The only reason I’m not excluding Newton from the poll is Luke Kuechly, who is great enough to give the former Most Valuable Player a run for his money. Over the past few years, he has been one of the most consistently dominant defensive players in the league. Blitzing, run stopping, covering, he can do it all, and always does it with tremendously sound fundamentals and anticipation. Kuechly seems to know the play better than the offense does much of the time. I personally won’t pass up the quarterback, but Kuechly, who is still only 26, is the best player at his position and makes a great case.
Nobody else on Carolina seems to make a case to match one of these two, but they still have an impressive roster. Christian McCaffrey has tantalizing upside with his versatility, but has posted some poor efficiency numbers this year in the run and pass game. Julius Peppers does have 7.5 sacks (amazingly the 15th time he has eclipsed that number), but is almost 38 (!) years old. LB Thomas Davis (34), DT Kawann Short (28), and LB Shaq Thompson (23) also could reach the outskirts of the conversation.
Is there any Panther that deserves to be considered alongside Newton and Kuechly? Which would you most like to see on the Jets?
Poll
Which Panther would you most want on the Jets?
This poll is closed
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37%
Luke Kuechly
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55%
Cam Newton
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6%
Someone else