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While Tom Brady has been the deciding factor in the free agent quarterback market, a new wild card has emerged.
The Panthers announced that they’ve given quarterback Cam Newton permission to seek a trade. According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, the Panthers are interested in bringing Teddy Bridgewater to Carolina.
#Panthers give Cam Newton permission to seek a tradehttps://t.co/Vf3GSBVA1j
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) March 17, 2020
The one thing that was made apparent on the NFL’s first day of the “legal tampering” window of free agency, it was that the Bears aren’t 100 percent confident in incumbent starter Mitchell Trubisky.
The Bears were all over the quarterback market Monday, looking at free agents and also exploring trade options with Cincinnati and Jacksonville for Andy Dalton or Nick Foles.
With Newton now on the market, that changes things. Newton automatically becomes the best option on the table for Chicago, if they’re looking to trade for a quarterback. And considering Newton welcomed the opportunity to play for the Bears last November, general manager Ryan Pace should shoot his shot.
“Chicago, if they’re in the market for a quarterback, is something that — from my understanding — Cam Newton would in fact welcome if that all worked out,” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said last November.
Obviously, the question would be: What’s the cost?
The Bears have eight draft picks to their name, but only two of those in the top-150 — both of which are second rounders. Would Pace be willing to part with one of those second-round picks?
Newton’s base salary for 2020 is $18.6 million, which is less than what someone like Bridgewater would seek in his new deal.
One thing is for certain, with Brady and Bridgewater already looking for new homes, throwing Newton into the mix certainly makes it all the more interesting.
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