Cam Newton

The Top QBs Left In NFL Free Agency

May 6th, 2020 at 3:03pm CST by Zachary Links

Just after the NFL Draft, Jameis Winston found his new NFL home by signing a low-cost one-year deal with the Saints. Even with the former No. 1 overall pick off the market, there are still several notable names left. Here’s a rundown of some of the passers available here in May:

Cam Newton: A slew of injuries have hampered the one-time MVP and the ongoing pandemic has prevented clubs from having their team doctors take a close inspection. Newton has gone under the knife multiple times throughout his career, including surgeries to his throwing shoulder and left foot. While Winston settled for a deal to serve as a backup – and perhaps a QB3 – Newton is still pushing for a starting job. Right now, there aren’t any clubs willing to hand him a QB1 gig, so he’ll probably have to wait this one out or temper his expectations. The Patriots, who currently have Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham as their top QBs, could be a fit, but there hasn’t been much movement on that front yet.
Joe Flacco: Was Flacco an elite quarterback in his prime? That question will plague the football world forever. What we do know is that Flacco profiles as an experienced and inexpensive backup option for teams in need. The 35-year-old was sidelined for the second half of 2019 – his first season with the Broncos – and waiting for an opportunity to open up. At one point, Flacco was asked about his thoughts on the Eagles. But, with Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts, Nate Sudfeld, and Kyle Lauletta on the depth chart, that no longer seems like a fit.
Blake Bortles: Despite all of his flaws, the Jaguars handed Blake Bortles a three-year, $54MM deal in 2018 with $26.5MM guaranteed. One year later, they pushed him out the door for Nick Foles, leading him to L.A. After throwing a grand total of three passes last year, the former No. 3 overall pick is looking for a solid backup opportunity. The Rams have several QBs under contract behind Jared Goff, but there could still be an opportunity for him to return.
Mike Glennon: With a dearth of quality QBs on the market in 2017, Glennon landed a three-year, $45MM deal with the Bears. Now 30 with a career 6-16 record, he’ll come for a lot cheaper. He earned just $1MM in base pay last year with the Raiders.
Cody Kessler: Even after Tom Brady bid farewell, the Patriots decided that they didn’t need the former fourth-round pick on the roster. He’s got 12 career starts on his resume – unfortunately, the first eight came with the 2016 Browns.
Trevor Siemian: We haven’t heard Siemian’s name mentioned recently. Fortunately, he’s said to have made a full recovery from his brutal Week 2 ankle injury.

Cam Newton Will Not Accept Backup Role?

May 6th, 2020 at 10:01am CST by Rory Parks

The draft is over and teams appear to be set with their starting quarterbacks for the 2020 season. But Cam Newton is still on the market, and per Joe Person of The Athletic, the former Panthers star is not willing to accept a backup job (Twitter link).

This is largely in keeping with a report from late last month indicating that Newton is looking for a starting gig. However, there’s quite a difference between “looking for” a certain role and refusing to accept anything less. That difference is especially pronounced when considering that all QB1 spots are currently taken.

Newton’s market has clearly been depressed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as interested teams are unable to bring him in for a physical to see if he is fully recovered from the significant injuries he has battled over the past several seasons. The soon-to-be 31-year-old has expressed a willingness to be patient, and as Person observes, Newton may have to wait until a starting QB gets hurt before signing with a new club.

Theoretically, underperformance from a current QB1 could also trigger a Newton signing. The Chargers may have No. 6 overall pick Justin Herbert sit behind Tyrod Taylor for a season while Herbert gets acclimated to the pro game, but the Bolts are built to win now, so if Newton is healthy, he would certainly offer the team a better chance of advancing to the postseason than Taylor. And while the Patriots have done nothing to indicate that they are looking for an upgrade over second-year signal-caller Jarrett Stidham and his veteran mentor, Brian Hoyer, a healthy Newton would be undeniably tempting for Bill Belichick & Co.

The Redskins, who employ Newton’s former boss, Ron Rivera, are also rostering Kyle Allen, who replaced Newton in Carolina after Week 2 of the 2019 season. Washington hopes rising sophomore Dwayne Haskins will be the long-term solution under center, but Rivera has not ruled out a Newton signing, which could be in the cards if Haskins struggles in camp.

If no starter sustains a season-long injury, and if teams remain content with their current situations, it will be interesting to see if Newton opts to sit out the season and return to a less crowded QB market in 2021.

NFC East Notes: Redskins, Newton, Williams, Cowboys, Eagles, Giants

April 30th, 2020 at 7:51pm CST by Zachary Links

Things weren’t great down the stretch for the Redskins and Trent Williams, but the new 49ers tackle says he’s not harboring any ill will towards his former team.

“I’m thankful this is over,” Williams told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). “Thanks to Dan [Snyder] and the organization for all they’ve done for me. Still a lot of love for the fans and that locker room. Now I’m focusing on being the best player I can possibly be for the 49ers.”

Now that his saga with the Redskins is in the rear view mirror, Williams is focused on hashing out a new deal with the defending NFC champs. Right now, Williams is set to play out the 2020 season on a $12.5MM base salary, but the veteran says there’s mutual interest in a fresh pact. Given Williams’ medical history and age, it remains to be seen whether the 49ers would be willing to commit substantial guaranteed cash to him. Then again, he’s a seven-time Pro Bowler at a premium position and the Niners, ideally, want to keep him happy.

Here’s more from the NFC West:

Were the Redskins ever serious about selecting Tua Tagovailoa instead of stud edge rusher Chase Young? “No, not really,” head coach Ron Rivera said this week (via JP Finlay of NBC Sports). “We just feel about the things we saw from Dwayne Haskins,” Rivera continued. “I feel good enough about him that I’m willing to take that chance, that opportunity.”
Meanwhile, the longtime Panthers head coach isn’t ruling out a reunion with former MVP Cam Newton (via NFL.com). “You know, the thing about Cam really is the situation,” said Rivera. “We’re in a situation where we’ve got two really young quarterbacks, one that’s been with us, been in the system, understands how we want things done and the other one is a guy who was taken last year in the first round and shows some promise.” For now, Newton is holding out for an opportunity to start.
The Cowboys coughed up a 2021 fifth-round pick to the Eagles to take Wisconsin lineman Tyler Biadsz last week. The intra-divisional trade wasn’t an easy call, but they were able to stomach it thanks to a wealth of mid-round selections coming their way, The Athletic’s Jon Machota writes. Jerry Jones & Co. will recoup comp picks after losing four starters in free agency: cornerback Byron Jones, edge rusher Robert Quinn, wide receiver Randall Cobb, and defensive tackle Maliek Collins.
The Giants non-tendered center Jon Halapio earlier this year, but there’s a strong chance he’ll return to the team as he recovers from an Achilles injury, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets. For now, the Giants have a few options on hand in guard Shane Lemieux – who has never lined up in the middle – Spencer Pulley, and G/T Nick Gates.

Cam Newton Looking For Starting Job

April 27th, 2020 at 10:21am CST by Zachary Links

Free agent Cam Newton is looking for a starting gig, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Unfortunately for the one-time MVP, there aren’t many openings left after the draft.

The Chargers likely took themselves out of the Newton sweepstakes by selecting Oregon’s Justin Herbert with the No. 6 overall pick. In theory, Newton could serve as a veteran bridge to a rookie – especially one as green as Herbert – but they already have Tyrod Taylor to occupy that role on a very reasonable contract. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have Tua Tagovailoa and the Jaguars seem prepared to roll with Gardner Minshew. In theory, that leaves the Patriots, though their level of interest in Newton is unclear. At the moment, their QB room includes veteran Brian Hoyer and newly signed UDFA Brian Lewerke, a Michigan State product who lobbed 17 touchdowns against 13 interceptions last year.

After the Panthers moved on from Newton, the QB’s camp has been preaching patience. The 30-year-old is out to prove himself all over again after a lost season, but there are no clear openings for him at present. Newton’s best bet – and perhaps only bet – would be to wait for QB injuries to pop up elsewhere. Even then, any team with interest in Newton will take a very close inspection of his foot and shoulder injuries.

Newton was limited to only two games in 2019, but he did make 14 starts in 2018. In that year, he completed a career-best 67.9% of his throws for 3,395 yards, 24 TDs, and 13 picks. He also showed that he can still make plays with his feet – he tallied 488 rushing yards and four scores on 101 carries.

Cam Newton Willing To Wait

April 9th, 2020 at 5:04pm CST by Zachary Links

Cam Newton is willing to wait until after the draft, if necessary, to find the right deal, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter) hears. Newton has been on the market for a little over two weeks and, so far, it sounds like that feeling is mutual. Tons of teams are believed to have interest in the former MVP, but no one is in a rush to sign him at this moment.

[POLL: Where Will Cam Newton Sign?]

The Panthers shopped Newton before officially cutting him on March 24th, and they even announced it publicly to further spread the word (and, possibly, mitigate some PR damage with fans). Of course, once the Panthers signed Teddy Bridgewater to a lucrative free agent deal, they had no real leverage in the matter.

The Chargers are one possible destination for Newton. Head coach Anthony Lynn says that even though Tyrod Taylor is the starter “for now,” he’ll be open to all options under center. That surely will include Newton, who was one of the best QBs in the NFL before he was beset by injuries.

In a recent PFR poll, nearly 34% of readers picked the Chargers as Newton’s most likely destination. The Patriots – who have some mighty big shoes to fill under center – placed second with ~26% of the vote.

Newton, 30, is looking to prove himself all over again following Lisfanc surgery in November. The current restrictions on medical exams could leave him waiting longer than he wants to – teams will want to get a close look at his foot, shoulder, and every other injured body part before making a serious commitment to him.

Latest On Chargers’ Mike Pouncey, QB Situation

April 2nd, 2020 at 9:50am CST by Rory Parks

Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn spoke at length with reporters yesterday, and two of the most significant topics he covered were the team’s quarterback situation and center Mike Pouncey‘s status.

Pouncey, who spent the first seven years of his career with the Dolphins, was released by Miami in March 2018 and quickly caught on with the Chargers. The pickup proved to be a savvy one for the Bolts, as Pouncey rewarded the team with a Pro Bowl performance and agreed to a one-year extension prior to the 2019 campaign that kept him under club control through 2020.

Unfortunately, the 2019 season did not go as planned for Pouncey or the Chargers. Pouncey landed on IR with a neck injury that required surgery, and as Lynn observed, the 30-year-old pivot has not yet been cleared for football activities (Twitter link via Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times). However, Lynn does expect Pouncey to be cleared by the time players reconvene — whenever that is — and he suggested that he is comfortable with the club’s other options in the event Pouncey is not ready to go. Dan Feeney, currently penciled in at left guard, and 2018 fifth-rounder Scott Quessenberry combined to fill the void left by Pouncey, but neither player performed particularly well in that role.

As for the team’s QB situation, Lynn confirmed that Tyrod Taylor is the team’s starter for now, as Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com writes. That is not at all surprising given that the only other signal-caller currently on the roster is 2019 fifth-rounder Easton Stick, but Lynn did create a little intrigue. Per Thiry, Lynn was asked specifically about the Chargers’ interest in Cam Newton, and after initially avoiding a similar question, Lynn said, “[w]e’re looking at everybody. I want to turn over every single rock, so yeah, we’re looking at everybody.”

More likely than not, that statement is basic coach-speak. After all, we heard just a couple of weeks ago that the Chargers have no intention of acquiring another veteran QB to compete with Taylor, and it seems more plausible that the club will select a QB with the No. 6 overall pick and roll into the 2020 season with Taylor and the rookie passer at the top of the depth chart. On the other hand, Los Angeles is built to win now, and its offseason moves were clearly made with an eye towards competing in 2020. If healthy, Newton is a dramatic upgrade over Taylor — whose release would free up $5MM of cap space — so it stands to reason that Lynn would at least consider that option.

POLL: Where Will Cam Newton Sign?

March 29th, 2020 at 7:08pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The quarterback carousel has mostly come to a stop, and a few big names were left without starting gigs when the dust settled. The highest profile signal-caller on the open market is Cam Newton, and it’s going to be very interesting to see where he ends up signing.

Newton won an MVP and led the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2015, but his past two campaigns have been derailed by injuries. Last year he was limited to only two games because of a foot injury. The year before that he started the season off hot, but fell apart down the stretch once he started having shoulder issues. Since teams are unable to host free agents on visits due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it might be harder for Newton to find a home for a while with teams’ doctors being unable to examine him in person.

The Chargers are the betting favorite at sportsbooks offering odds on where Newton will end up, and it’s not hard to see why. Los Angeles is arguably a quarterback away from being a legit Super Bowl contender, and on paper they might have the most talented defense in the league. Tyrod Taylor is currently slated as the team’s starter and while he has been solid at times in the past with Buffalo, he doesn’t have the upside that Newton does.

The Chargers own the sixth overall pick however, and they’ve been linked to drafting a passer in the first-round. We also heard a couple weeks ago that they were no longer looking to add a veteran after they whiffed on Tom Brady, although that was before Newton became a free agent.

The Jaguars are another option, as they’re currently rolling with second-year player Gardner Minshew at quarterback and not much else. Minshew showed flashes last year, but he was hardly consistent. The Redskins are another conceivable suitor as they could reunite Newton with his old coach Ron Rivera, although we heard before he was released that they weren’t expected to be interested.

The Dolphins don’t have a firmly entrenched starter right now, but they’re widely expected to draft a quarterback in the first-round. If they surprisingly decide to pass on one, Newton could make sense as an upgrade over Ryan Fitzpatrick. Then there’s the Patriots. New England has a lot of uncertainty at the position after Brady’s departure, and all they have right now is the unproven Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer. Newton being paired with Bill Belichick would certainly be interesting, to say the least.

So where will the former first overall pick be playing next year? Vote in the poll below (link for app users) and show your work in the comments!

Panthers Release Cam Newton

March 24th, 2020 at 2:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers’ efforts to trade Cam Newton evidently did not take off. They are expected to release the former MVP as soon as Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Carolina made the move official Tuesday afternoon.

While the Panthers attempted to deal Newton to the Bears and Chargers, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, they could not find a taker. Newton had one season remaining on a deal he signed back in 2015. He was set to earn $18.6MM in 2020 base salary; Carolina will take on just $2MM in dead money for releasing Newton but clear $19.1MM in cap space. The Bears subsequently traded for Nick Foles instead, and the Chargers appear focused on the draft. After pursuing Tom Brady, the Bolts no longer intend to add a veteran quarterback.

A Newton release was the expected outcome, given the unique complications this offseason presents for the Panthers to trade their three-time Pro Bowl passer. This will end a nine-year run for Newton in Charlotte. The move also comes less than a month after Matt Rhule indicated he wanted to keep Newton for the 2020 season. Carolina moved swiftly in another direction after that pronouncement.

The No. 1 overall pick in 2011, Newton fairly quickly solidified himself as the best quarterback in Panthers history. He helped the Panthers to four playoff berths in a five-season span and piloted them to Super Bowl 50 in 2015. However, injuries intervened in the late 2010s and will lead the former superstar to the open market for the first time.

Newton, 30, is recovering from the Lisfanc surgery he underwent in December. The NFL’s all-time QB rushing-touchdown king has not been fully healthy since early in the 2018 season, when he suffered a shoulder injury. Newton is not expected to be game-ready for months.

Considering the changes the COVID-19 pandemic has made to this NFL offseason, Newton could be in limbo. Teams are not permitted to host free agents on visits, and while third-party doctors can still examine players, any franchise signing off on a Newton contract would probably want to put its medical staff to work on the injury-prone passer.

Because of this strange scenario, the Panthers were able to pry a fifth-rounder from the Redskins for Kyle Allen on Monday and will be forced to release Newton. Carolina’s quarterback depth chart now sits at Teddy Bridgewater–P.J. Walker–Will Grier. The Panthers officially signed Walker on Tuesday morning. Bridgewater signed his three-year, $63MM deal Monday night, and David Newton of ESPN.com notes the Panthers will not carry both Bridgewater and Newton’s salaries. The Newton-to-Bridgewater transition will begin Tuesday.

Newton had regressed considerably since the Panthers’ Super Bowl 50 loss, ranking 30th in QBR since 2016, but the nine-year veteran showed promise in Norv Turner‘s offense early in 2018 certainly would have brought back a trade package of some sort in a normal NFL offseason. The former Heisman winner now must continue his rehab on his own and do so in one of the most uncertain times to go about a rehab effort. The NFL may well end up canceling all offseason activities due to conoravirus-related uncertainty, so it might be difficult for Newton to land a noteworthy contract for the 2020 season.

Carolina will have parted ways with Newton, Greg Olsen, Luke Kuechly, Trai Turner and Mario Addison this offseason. Rhule’s team will certainly look different when the Panthers are permitted to reconvene under their new coach.

Cam Newton Passes Physical

March 24th, 2020 at 1:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Cam Newton is now a free agent, with the Panthers choosing to release him and move forward with Teddy Bridgewater. Newton checked off a key box in his effort to secure a starting job elsewhere this week.

The former MVP took a physical on Monday in Atlanta and passed, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, adding that Newton’s injured foot and shoulder “checked out well.” The Panthers and Newton’s agency co-coordinated the physical.

Newton passing a physical is certainly notable news as he gears up to land another gig. Teams are not, however, allowed to visit with players nor can their medical staffs examine free agents due to COVID-19. That may make the 30-year-old quarterback wait a bit. It was also reported a few weeks ago Newton is a few months away from being game-ready, so it will be interesting to see how he progresses and whether that progress will produce a near-future agreement for the accomplished quarterback to resume his career.

The longtime Panthers starter joins Jameis Winston as former No. 1 overall quarterbacks now in free agency. While the Chargers rebuffed Panthers overtures at a Newton trade, they are a logical suitor. Although the Bolts are not actively looking for a veteran passer, a franchise with perhaps the smallest known local fanbase in modern NFL history is set to move into a new stadium with Tyrod Taylor as its starting quarterback. The Bolts are also in the mix for a quarterback at No. 6, so Newton would likely have to be on board with being a bridge quarterback if a Los Angeles path opened.

New England may be posturing, but the early word points to the Patriots going with either Jarrett Stidham or Brian Hoyer. The Jaguars traded Nick Foles but are apparently rolling with 2019 sixth-rounder Gardner Minshew. The Broncos have, likewise, committed to Drew Lock after years of bringing in veterans. The Panthers offered Newton to the Bears, but they then acquired Foles.

Where Newton lands will be one of the more interesting pieces left in this offseason’s quarterback puzzle. While he has accomplished far more than Winston, the latter has no injury history.

Redskins Not Expected To Pursue Cam Newton, Jameis Winston

March 23rd, 2020 at 10:33am CST by Sam Robinson

While Dwayne Haskins‘ status is murkier than it would have been had the Redskins retained Bruce Allen, the Ron Rivera regime’s plan does not include giving Cam Newton a chance to reignite his career.

The Redskins have been linked to Tua Tagovailoa at No. 2 overall, but they will not add a high-profile veteran quarterback. Even if the Panthers cut Newton, the Redskins are not expected to be interested, John Keim of ESPN.com notes. The same goes for Jameis Winston, who is now in search of a new team after the Buccaneers landed Tom Brady.

Washington does not want to put Haskins in a position where he would be the clear backup, Keim adds. That would be the case if Newton and Rivera reunited. Each of Newton’s 124 starts came when Rivera was Carolina’s coach.

The Panthers are having trouble finding a trade partner for Newton, which makes sense given the COVID-19 pandemic preventing teams from having their medical personnel examine players with injury concerns. The Panthers are likely to release the former MVP soon. Winston has not been linked to any teams since the Bucs signed Brady.

Haskins finished with by far the worst QBR figure among qualified passers last season. Daniel Snyder, however, pushed for the Ohio State prospect going into the draft. Although Rivera mentioned Alex Smith as a candidate to start in 2020, the odds may still be against the former No. 1 overall pick playing again. Unless the Redskins draft Tagovailoa over Chase Young, Haskins remains the best bet to take the snaps in Week 1.

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