After an exciting nine-year run with the Carolina Panthers, former first-overall pick Cam Newton is officially a free agent. The team released the one-time MVP on Tuesday, and he’s now free to sign anywhere. Even though most teams already have a plan at quarterback for 2020, there are still a handful of teams that could make a move for Newton’s services.
Cam Newton Free Agency Team Fits
Los Angeles Chargers
The most obvious fit is the Los Angeles Chargers. After parting ways with Philip Rivers in the offseason, the Chargers currently have Tyrod Taylor in line to start for 2020. Taylor is an above-average backup and can get you through a few games, but he’s not a serviceable 16-game starter. The Chargers are almost destined to add another quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft, but said quarterback might not be ready for the start of the season.
Transitioning from the collegiate level to the pros is hard enough on its’ own, but it might be even harder in 2020. Thanks to COVID-19, there is a very real chance that offseason programs around the league are going to be dramatically shortened. If that’s the case, then someone like Justin Herbert might not be ready to take over until 2021. The Chargers have a solid roster, and Cam Newton gives Los Angeles a considerably better chance in the short-term than Tyrod Taylor.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots seem to be all-in on Jarrett Stidham, but history tells us that trying to predict Bill Belichick’s actions is a fools’ errand. Stidham was once one of the top quarterback prospects in college, and he looked like a legitimate starting-caliber quarterback in the 2019 preseason. There is reason to believe the Patriots feel comfortable with Stidham, but Newton could provide some extra security. He’d need to win the job, but there’s no doubt that he’s a better emergency option than Brian Hoyer.
Washington Redskins
2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins left a lot to be desired as a rookie. While it’s far too early to call him a bust, the Ohio State product was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league by just about every measure. After failing to beat out Case Keenum and Colt McCoy at the start of the season, Haskins finally made his way onto the field in for the final seven games of the season. During his time on the field, Haskins completed just 58.6% of his passes for 6.7 yards-per-attempt, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
The Redskins cleared house following the 2019 season and brought in former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera. Rivera obviously has ties to Newton, and he had nothing to do with the selection of Haskins. Newton is probably the better quarterback and, if nothing else, can push Haskins entering his second year.
Las Vegas Raiders
It’s not much of a secret that the Las Vegas Raiders are looking to move on from Derek Carr. Carr is a fine quarterback, but he’s far too conservative to offer any type of significant upside. Newton, while far more volatile than Carr, offers more upside and can play at a higher level, assuming he’s healthy. If the Raiders feel that they are a playoff-caliber team, then moving on to Newton makes a lot of sense. Carr isn’t good enough to carry a team in the playoffs, while Newton could theoretically get hot and pull off an unlikely Super Bowl run similar to Joe Flacco in 2012.
