CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Will this be the year Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton finally makes the cover of EA Sports Madden NFL?

The reigning NFL MVP has finished as the runner-up twice, losing the 2013 cover to Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson and the 2015 cover to Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman.

Newton didn’t make the top two in the fan vote last year, when New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. beat out New England tight end Rob Gronkowski.

But the decision on which player will grace the Madden 17 cover -- to be announced live on Thursday’s 6 p.m. ET SportsCenter -- is not in the hands of fans. EA Sports is changing the process and is picking the player it believes is the right fit.

So is Newton the right fit? Or will EA go with Houston defensive end J.J. Watt? Or maybe Gronkowski?

What about Newton’s teammate, middle linebacker Luke Kuechly?

You could make a case for any of those players, but I’m going to make one for Newton. Here are five reasons he should be on the cover:

League MVP: The spotlight has never been brighter on Newton after he led Carolina to an NFL-best 15-1 regular-season record and the NFC championship and won the league MVP award. Prior to Super Bowl 50, he had the second-highest endorsement portfolio of any player in the NFL outside of Peyton Manning. Manning retired after Denver beat the Panthers. There’s currently not a more high-profile player in the NFL. It seems only natural that if you’re pushing a product, as EA is, you’d want that kind of exposure.

Lethal thumbs: Newton said during a run at the 2015 cover that he had a “lethal pair of thumbs" when it comes to playing video games. He bragged to the MMQB regarding a potential showdown with NBA MVP Stephen Curry on NBA 2K that his thumbs are divine. “Listen, man, I’m trying to tell not only him, but also the world, my thumbs are God-given. My thumbs have been touched," Newton said. "I need to start coming out with this promotion company -- Golden Thumbs promotions. It’s part of the Whoop Ass Tour. I can come with it to Oakland, but I don’t think he wants those problems.”

Think of the promotions you can do with those comments.

Superman: NFL Madden makes players look bigger than life, and who better to promote the cover than a player who proclaims to be Superman? The game also allows players to occasionally do superhuman things. Did you see Newton’s front flip into the end zone last season against Houston? It looked like it came straight out of a video game.

Dab: Look how popular Newton made the dab, an Atlanta-based dance, when he did it last season after a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans. This could open the game for a new level of touchdown celebrations and dances.

Madden connoisseur: You won’t find many who love playing Madden more than Newton. In a February interview, he was asked where he ranks in Madden skills. “I don’t wear No. 1 for nothing," he replied. “I’m a Madden connoisseur for all type of years dating back, and it’s great to have my thumbs be so talented." Asked what advice he’d give someone playing Madden as the Panthers: “I would have to say when the game is on the line [put] the ball in Ace Boogie’s [his nickname] hands. He seems to get me out of a lot of situations and gets me over that losing hump. ... So if it works for me, I’m pretty sure it will work for them."

See, Newton’s a natural choice. If he doesn’t get on the cover with all this going for him, he might never get on it.