Cam Newton's contract includes largest payout for first three years ever

Cam Newton's contract is historic. Now the Carolina Panthers will hope his play jumps to historic levels.

Newton not only got a mega-deal from the Panthers, it's one of the biggest the NFL has ever seen. Newton will make $67.6 million in the first three years of his five-year, $103.8 million deal, according to multiple reports. The deal became official on Tuesday.

That would be the largest payout over the first three years of a deal in NFL history, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said. USA Today's Tom Pelissero said Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger held the record at $65 million. The deal includes $60 million in guarantees for injuries, according to reports.

Newton is very talented and his production has been severely underrated throughout his career, but that's still a heck of a payout based on what Newton has done so far. And it must make the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks a little nervous.

Newton isn't considered at the same level as Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, and hasn't been a part of as much team success as Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. So it's fair to wonder if Luck and Wilson, who entered the NFL a year after Newton did, will get long-awaited contract extensions that will surpass Newton's deal. That deal certainly sets the bar high.

Newton put up career lows in most statistical categories last season, but he dealt with some major injuries along the way. Still, expectations will increase for Newton now. That's the nature of such a big deal. And, at least by one measure, there has never been a bigger deal.