Former Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton wants to rejoin the NFL, even if it means signing as a backup. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the one-time league MVP listed nine veteran quarterbacks that he’d happily back up: Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Justin Fields, Deshaun Watson, Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts, Malik Willis (but not Ryan Tannehill apparently?) Sam Howell, and Aaron Rodgers. Newton also mentioned rookies C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, and Anthony Richardson, which is interesting considering the three players have yet to suit up in the NFL. So, Newton has 9-12 teams he’d be willing to play for, but which teams would be willing to roll the dice on him?
Cam Newton’s in 2010 during his one season at Auburn:
* 2,854 passing yards, 30 passing TD
* 1,473 rushing yards, 20 rushing TD
* Heisman Winner
* 14-0 National ChampionElite. https://t.co/CPEhCbLfUO pic.twitter.com/pjfMMO1QkC
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 30, 2023
Top 5 Teams That Could Sign Cam Newton, Ranked
1. Baltimore Ravens
There are a lot of reasons why a team like the Baltimore Ravens could use someone like Cam Newton. In case you’ve been living under a rock, Lamar Jackson is looking for a new contract, and Baltimore does not appear to be willing to meet Jackson’s terms. Chances are, the quarterback will return and play one more season with the Ravens, but there is a chance that the team trades him at some point between now and the start of the season. If that happens, the Ravens will need to find a proven bridge quarterback, and Newton’s as good as any currently available option. If, however, Jackson comes back, the Ravens should still look to upgrade the backup quarterback position. Tyler Huntley did not impress during his extended audition last year, and if Newton has returned to health over the past year, he’d be a clear upgrade.
2. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins picked up the fifth-year option on Tua Tagovailoa, which means that they are entrusting the franchise to the former first-round pick as long as he stays healthy. However, his long-term health is a serious issue after a series of concussions cost him a few games in 2022. Miami needs an insurance policy in case Tagovailoa simply cannot stay on the field, and Newton would be a good fit for this system. The former MVP has never worked with receivers nearly as good as Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and even at his advanced age, he’s far more mobile than Tagovailoa. He certainly wouldn’t compete for the starting job, but he could keep the offense afloat in the event injury struck.
3. Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders appear to be all-in on Sam Howell, and they signed Jacoby Brissett to be his backup. However, they could use another option in case Howell doesn’t work out and Brissett plays like his pre-2022 self, and Newton is the ideal choice here. Obviously, Cam Newton and head coach Ron Rivera have a strong connection from their time with the Carolina Panthers, so it shouldn’t be too hard for Newton to learn the offense and help mentor Howell.
4. Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson had a rough 2022, but you can most of his shoddy performance on rust. He should be back to his old self in 2023, which means that Cam Newton will not compete to start on this team. However, the Browns are just one bad hit away from having to start Josh Dobbs. Seeing as Cleveland has little draft capital, it’s hard to imagine them investing in a backup quarterback, which means that they will have to turn to free agency to improve the position. Cam Newton is definitely better than Josh Dobbs, and Watson’s fairly-extensive injury history means that there is a decent chance Cleveland will have to turn to their backup in 2023.
5. New York Jets
The New York Jets will get Aaron Rodgers at some point, but he won’t singlehandedly fix all of their quarterback issues. After the disaster that was the 2022 season, the Jets cannot afford to turn back to Zach Wilson should something happen to Aaron Rodgers. Cam Newton might not be able to guide this roster to the Super Bowl, but the team would play hard for him, which is something we know wouldn’t be true of Wilson.
Main Photo: Jake Crandall – USA Today Sports
