If the lopsided blockbuster Matt Stafford for Jared Goff trade is any indication of what’s to come, we’re about to witness the wildest offseason in NFL history. Deshaun Watson is the brightest star at the center of a constellation of potential quarterback movement. It’s impossible to predict how it will all shake out, but right now it seems like half the teams in the league could wind up changing starters in 2021.
One of the many moving pieces to watch is former Panthers MVP quarterback Cam Newton, who will become a free agent again next month. Newton’s Patriots missed the playoffs and his passing numbers were underwhelming. However, he also had arguably less to work with at wide receiver than any other QB during the 2020 season. Newton also proved he’s still one of the game’s best rushing quarterbacks and his epic Week 2 performance against the Seahawks showed his arm talent is still in top-10 territory when he’s healthy.
He’s not the same playmaker he was in 2015 obviously, but Newton still qualifies as an upgrade for maybe a dozen or so teams, including the one former Carolina coach Ron Rivera is now with. Speaking yesterday with the media, Rivera wouldn’t rule out Washington signing Newton – per Alaina Getzenberg at the Charlotte Observer.
Ron Rivera when asked if Cam Newton could be headed to Washington: "We're exploring all of our options. Nothing is off the table … as we go through this, we're going to do what we believe is best for us."
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) February 3, 2021
There are a few notable obstacles to a potential Newton/Rivera union. The first is the presence of Alex Smith, who’s a popular candidate to win Comeback Player of the Year and is under contract for two more seasons. Smith is five years older than Newton though and he’s not in the same league athletically. Rivera should understand that as well as anyone, having worked up close with both.
The other big potential hangup is former Panthers general manager Marty Hurney, who unceremoniously released Newton from Carolina last year and replaced him with Teddy Bridgewater. Newton was reportedly “blindisded” by the move and clearly felt betrayed based on his social media posts in the weeks and months following the news. It would certainly be understandable if he held a grudge against Hurney – who is now a prominent member of Washington’s front office.
Speaking of which, Hurney was asked about the quarterback situation yesterday and warned against mortgaging the future for one.
Marty Hurney says as important as the QB position is, you have to have an OL and skill players around him. Can't "mortgage the future" to get a QB.
He was talking about Washington, but applies to what's happening in Carolina right now, too.
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) February 3, 2021
It’s difficult to say what Newton’s market will look like. We can probably assume he’ll get more than the absurd $1.75 million bargain New England had him at this year, though.
Heading into the offseason, we have Newton ranked as the third-best free agent QB behind Dak Prescott and Jameis Winston.
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