take Payton over him by a landslide. Payton to me gets players to play at a higher level. He could take this same personnel and get it in the top 1/2 most likely all because of coaching.
Newton really was the juice in that superbowl year but I grant the Panthers defense was great as well, but I just don't see him making a difference in a team that has hit rock bottom on offense.
The current players that are here on offense need to become better football players. Payton can make that happen. Rivera will continue to field a bottom tier offense that will limit the team with the Rams roster.