Is Cam Newton changing his mind about his free agency options?

Is Cam Newton re-thinking his free agency options?

After nine years leading the Carolina Panthers, Cam Newton is still looking for a new home to begin the second part of his NFL career. Newton was a three-time Pro Bowler in Charlotte, leading the Panthers to Super Bowl 50 in his NFL MVP season back in 2015. Despite being the franchise’s leading passer, Carolina decided to move on from its former star quarterback this offseason.

While rumors of Newton joining teams like the Chicago Bears, the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots circulated this spring, nothing manifested. The thought of many NFL front offices is Newton is too talented to be a backup quarterback in this league. If he’s going to sign-on somewhere, it would be for a team he’d have the opportunity to win the starting job in camp.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Newton’s market is not as robust as it once was, having cooled off considerably in recent weeks. He may be willing to wait for the right situation to arise before committing to a new team. Newton could remain a free agent until training camp commences. Though he is a starter, is Newton changing his mind about the thought of being a backup?

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported in early May Newton would be open to being a backup signal-caller if it was in the right situation, of course. Newton should view himself as a starter, but we have to wonder if he’s changing his mind on the prospect of being a backup in 2020. Is the former NFL MVP softening his stance in his long-drawn-out free agency?

Should Cam Newton entertain the idea of being a backup quarterback in 2020?

If Newton were to settle for a backup role, he wouldn’t be the first 2019 starting quarterback to do such a thing in 2020 NFL free agency. Former Tennessee Titans starter Marcus Mariota is backing up Derek Carr with the Las Vegas Raiders. Jameis Winston switches NFC South teams to back up Drew Brees with the New Orleans Saints after a five-year run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Like Newton, these guys are Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, taken in the top two picks in their respective NFL Drafts. Former day-two picks in Nick Foles and Andy Dalton have moved teams as well. Foles will compete for the starting job with Mitchell Trubisky on the Chicago Bears. The native Texan Dalton will be a high-end backup to Dak Prescott on the Dallas Cowboys.

While Newton has done more as a starter than all four signal-callers mentioned above, he’s also the one quarterback dealing with injuries the most. Newton missed 14 games last season in Charlotte due to a Lisfranc injury. If he was healthy last year, he’d undoubtedly be signed already by some other team. Injuries aside, should Newton entertain the idea of a backup role this fall?

If Newton were to do this, it would have to be for a franchise with either an aging starting quarterback or an unproven young player who isn’t bona fide. The most obvious aging quarterback situation is the one with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger. Newton and Roethlisberger are of the same quarterbacking prototype. The Pittsburgh fit makes a ton of sense.

As for quarterbacking situations without bonafide starters, we’re talking about the Patriots, the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jarrett Stidham, Drew Lock and Gardner Minshew weren’t first-round picks and are on their rookie contracts in the league. Though all have potential, none of them seem to have the high-end upside of Newton. Maybe one of these spots works out?

Of those three teams, the Patriots makes the most sense because we’ve seen nothing out of Stidham other than getting pick-sixed by Jamal Adams of the rival New York Jets. Lock had his moments late last year in Denver. Minshew was one of the most pleasant rookie surprises last year down in Jacksonville, significantly outplaying Foles, and therefore making him expendable.

So should Newton wait until training camp before signing on somewhere? Yes, as that would be most advantageous for his camp. However, if he were to sign on somewhere as soon as tomorrow with a team as a backup, you’d have to believe the Steelers and the Patriots would stand as very intriguing options. You cannot deny the winning culture emanating from both AFC franchises.

While Newton should be a starter, he may end up settling for a great opportunity as a backup.