Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has vowed to take on a greater leadership role within the team next season.

The Panthers lost a number of starting players during the off-season, including long-serving wide receiver Steve Smith, who was released following a record-breaking career with the team.

Newton has enjoyed a productive first three seasons in Carolina, but he is still looking to improve and has highlighted his leadership as an area to work on.

"There's a lot of things from yesterday in meeting with Coach [Ken] Dorsey, in numerous talks with him, that I need to get better at," Newton told reporters.

"There's things that I did last year that can't roll over into this year. I have to take more ownership in this offense, and I will. More has been given to me on my plate to say you have to be a leader of men, doing the proper and necessary things to reach out to players like never before."

Newton is currently recovering from ankle surgery but is expected to be fit in time for the start of the new season.