Written by: Tyler Deakin
Cam Newton was released by the Patriots today as part of their 53-man roster cutdown. His release makes him a free agent who is immediately able to sign with any team. I don’t believe that he will sign immediately given his cold market in free agency earlier this offseason; however, it is possible he could sign relatively soon since the football season is about to begin. He’s certain to draw plenty of interest from numerous teams in search of a veteran backup QB. Let’s dive in to take a look at some of the potential landing spots for the 2015 NFL MVP.
Houston Texans
This landing spot could offer Cam Newton the best opportunity to be a starting QB. Deshaun Watson will likely be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list or be traded away before the season begins, which leaves the team without a clear starter at the position. Newton’s main competition here is between veteran Tyrod Taylor & rookie Davis Mills. Taylor’s mostly been a journeyman backup QB in his career, while Mills likely needs more time to develop at the NFL level. Could we see Cam Newton suit up for the Texans as their QB1 later this year?
New York Jets
This one seems unlikely given that the Jets just drafted Zach Wilson in the first round of this year’s draft; however, the quarterback depth chart behind Wilson is barren. His backup is Mike White who has never played in the NFL before. Nobody wants to play for the Jets, but this might be the best opportunity for Newton to latch on as a backup QB. Cam signing with the Jets could also set him up for a revenge game against the Patriots should an injury occur to Wilson. We’ll see if the Jets reach out to make an offer for the former Patriots starter.
Jacksonville Jaguars
QB Trevor Lawrence is the starter here after being drafted 1st overall in this year’s draft; however, it’s certainly possible that Newton could latch on as a backup for the Jaguars. The team recently traded away backup QB Gardner Minshew, leaving them with veteran C.J. Beathard as their backup. I believe that Cam Newton is a great fit for the Jaguars as a QB2 should the Jaguars make him an offer. Head coach Urban Meyer has shown creativity at the NFL level, notably experimenting with Tim Tebow as a tight end. This creativity would bode well for Newton here.
Minnesota Vikings
Former Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen recently said the following about QB Kirk Cousins, “Cousins is a**… ask [head coach Mike] Zimmer if he wanted Kirk?” These statements were made via Twitter & have since been deleted; however, I believe that these statements point to the idea that Zimmer wants more athleticism at QB. The Vikings were reportedly set to draft dual threat QB Justin Fields this year before the Bears traded up to draft him. Zimmer’s backup plan was to draft Kellen Mond in the 3rd round, who was the No. 1 high dual threat QB recruit back in high school. Cam Newton signing with the Vikings would offer Zimmer a unique set of athletic skills to utilize should Cousins falter at any point this year.
Other Options
The Cowboys also make sense as an option for Newton since their backup is unheralded Cooper Rush. It’s possible that the Seahawks could give him a look as a backup to Russell Wilson. Tyler Huntley impressed as a backup for the Ravens, but Cam would be a nice fit for their offense. Meanwhile, the Colts are an injury away from having zero options at QB so he could be a fit there. Finally, is it possible that his former coach Ron Rivera could give him a call?
Retirement
I hate to say this, but is it possible that we’ve seen the last of Cam Newton in the NFL? He’s played in the league for 10 seasons, and his play has notably declined since suffering his shoulder injury with the Panthers in 2019. More recently, he was benched for Jarrett Stidham after struggling mightily in his return from the Covid List. I’m still skeptical that Cam ends up retiring, but it really depends on whether or not he wants to stay in the league as a backup QB.
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