Cam Newton is all the proof in the world that the NFL really stands for “Not For Long”. The former Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots quarterback is currently out of a job, which just shows how quickly life can change in the NFL. Newton certainly isn’t the player he once was, but what does the future hold for the former league MVP?
[pickup_prop id=”10903″]
Cam Newton Is A Free Agent. Now What?
It goes without saying that Newton would probably prefer a shot at a starting gig. The former first-overall pick has made over $128 million in his professional career, excluding endorsements, so it’s not like he needs to take a backup job in order to put food on the table. Newton is still one of the top 32 or so quarterbacks in the league, but not every team with a question at quarterback is a great fit.
Newton would probably be an upgrade for the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles, but neither team is trying to win in 2021. Entering his age-32 season, Newton is too old to be a part of any rebuild, and the quarterback himself probably wouldn’t want to join a losing squad. This dramatically limits his options, as most winning teams already have a better option than Newton, or simply aren’t interested in a quarterback competition. Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera, for instance, has already gone on record to say that the team will be rolling with Ryan Fitzpatrick instead of Newton.
The one team that does make sense for Newton is the Denver Broncos. This roster is absolutely loaded from top to bottom and could be a serious playoff contender with a better quarterback. Teddy Bridgewater is currently the starter, and Newton is probably better than Bridgewater. While neither quarterback is lighting the world on fire, Newton actually finished 2020 with a higher PFF grade despite having a shorter offseason and working in a considerably worse situation.
You can say a lot of things about Cam Newton—most of them will be ignorant—but he can still fit the ball in tight spaces.
pic.twitter.com/H29ruGVOEg— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) August 29, 2021
Possible Backup Work
If the Denver Broncos aren’t interested in Newton, then he might have to accept life as an NFL backup. Newton is better than just about every backup quarterback in the league, but there is still a huge hurdle to overcome. The quarterback has not received the COVID-19 vaccine and, like it or not, this is going to have a major impact on potential employment.
The most important duty for a backup quarterback is to be ready in the case of an emergency. No matter what happens, the backup quarterback needs to be ready to go at a moment’s notice, and that type of security is something that Newton simply cannot provide. If he tests positive or is in close contact with someone that tests positive, then he’s gone for a while.
Because of this, there needs to be a massive gap in talent between Newton and the current backup in order to justify a signing. Looking around the league, the most likely fit here is with the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott is already nursing a shoulder injury, and Cooper Rush might just be the worst backup quarterback in the league. If Newton is willing to sign as a backup, then Dallas would probably be the most likely landing spot.
Of course, there is the possibility that Newton just waits around for a starting job to open up. Injuries are inevitable in the NFL, and if a starting quarterback goes down, Newton will be the best option on the market. This is probably the most likely outcome, so don’t expect Cam Newton to be signing any time soon.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
