Why has Cam Newton not got a contract yet?
There are still several players on the free agent market who in my opinion could aid and in some cases kick start a franchise’s success. It seems odd to me why they haven’t been signed yet.
Cam has still not been picked up after being released by the Panthers in late March. Cam is still a great quarterback although his stats from last year do not look great. Cam had 0 touchdowns in his 2 starts in 2020. He was put on injured reserve in early November with a foot injury. Matt Rhule came in from Baylor to be the new head coach and Newton’s head was on the chopping block with Rhule favouring a more conservative approach with Teddy Bridgewater. Newton is only 5 seasons removed from an MVP and NFC championship. However, Cam is not young at 31 and is a big injury risk so signing him is a risk. I think Newton, providing he is healthy, could still be valuable to an NFL team.
COVID-19 has not helped Cam’s chances of being on a team next year. Cam’s injury concerns over his career. In his career, he has had 2 ankle injuries, a concussion, a rib fracture, a vertebrate fracture, a knee strain and 2 shoulder injuries. To an NFL GM that looks scary. So it is easy to see why Cam hasn’t been signed yet when he is not allowed to be tested by team doctors. Coronavirus is keeping us all apart and it is keeping Cam Newton out of an NFL helmet.
The Cincinnati Bengals
Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. What do they have in common? They all sat for at least half a season in their rookie years. Joe Burrow would benefit from this too. Cam loves football and surely would be desperate to get out on the field and therefore wouldn’t be too expensive. Burrow would benefit from having an experienced, MVP winning veteran in the QB room. With Newton or without Newton Burrow will be elite but a year learning from Newton could push him into the Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes category.
The New England Patriots
Bill Belichek, you are fooling no one. Stidham is unproven and inexperienced. He needs to be shown the ropes by a more experienced QB. Stidham has thrown 4 passes in the NFL. Two completions, an incompletion and a Pick six. As a Bills fan, I would love to see Stidham throw more passes to Tre White than to Julian Edelman. Newton would be as important as a backup to Stidham’s development. But its the patriots so they will go 11 and 5 and win the AFC East like every year with or without Brady. Belichick always finds a way.
The Jacksonville Jaguars
Minshew Mania is all well and good until its December and you’re 1–12. For the Jags that is possibly the aim. But that fan base is crying out for some success. Minshew could be the next Brady for all we know but it is probably all hype and next year there will be a certain blonde haired QB in a Jags uniform in 2020.
Cam can prevent the need for drafting Trevor Lawrence by making the Jags respectable and they can use the 1st rounder on a different position and make Minshew a top-level starter. We know the Jags are in the market for a QB because they were highly tipped for Andy Dalton who ended up in Dallas. If I had to bet on it I would put money on Jacksonville being Cam’s next destination.
The Tennessee Titans
Ryan Tannehill was amazing last year. But he is known for being injury prone and if he were to go down in 2020 then it would be a disaster for the Titan’s season. He is being backed up by 2 7th round picks. 25-year-old Logan Woodside and 22 Cole McDonald. That could send a team’s playoff hopes down a very gloomy drain. If Tannehill’s play is not up to scratch then Newton could rejuvenate his career in Tennessee. However, how would Cam feel being the backup to Ryan Tannehill? I don’t think this move makes sense for Cam. Although it makes sense for the Titans to have a former MVP at backup if Tannehill was ever to get injured, however, I can’t see Cam playing in the Turquoise next year.
Honourable Mentions
The Los Angeles Chargers- Tyrod Taylor is good, but he isn’t a very good mentor for Justin Herbert. I think the Chargers are okay with Taylor as the mentor for Herbert.
The Miami Dolphins- I will save you the reading time and not write the same thing twice, Ryan Fitzpatrick will be a fine mentor for Tua Tagovailoa.
Conclusion
The league probably knows something we don’t about Cam’s health or any other factor that would prevent him from being signed by one of the above teams.
I think the Jags would be stupid not to sign Cam to a one or two year deal as he could not only mentor Minshew but he could also mentor a Trevor Lawrence or a Justin Fields in seasons to come.
