3 teams who missed the boat on Cam Newton signing

Cam Newton to the New England Patriots makes these three teams look bad.

Maybe the New England Patriots dynasty continues with Cam Newton at quarterback?

When nobody expected it, ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped a complete bombshell on us Sunday evening. The former No. 1 overall pick of the Carolina Panthers would be joining the Evil Empire on his new football chapter. In nine years in Charlotte, Newton was a three-time Pro Bowler and won NFL MVP during an incredible 2015 season that culminated in a Super Bowl appearance.

But ever since the Panthers lost to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Newton wasn’t the same player. Though the Panthers were still a good team for a bit, Newton’s health declined in the last two seasons, as he played in only two games for Carolina in 2019. Longtime Panthers head coach Ron Rivera was fired mid-season and Carolina went in a new direction.

Admittedly, the Panthers did Newton dirty this offseason by not letting him enter free agency with the rest of the league’s high-end players. By the time he was released by Carolina, there weren’t exactly a ton of chairs left in free-agent quarterback musical chairs. Plenty of teams, including the Patriots, had chances to sign the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner from Auburn but chose not to.

Here are three NFL teams who will regret not signing Cam Newton this year.

Sure, the Los Angeles Chargers may feel fantastic about where their quarterback room is at. Presumptive Week 1 starter Tyrod Taylor knows exactly what to expect in head coach Anthony Lynn’s offensive system. Los Angeles used the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on former Oregon Ducks standout Justin Herbert. Lynn is also a big fan of third-stringer Easton Stick.

But you know what not of them have ever done? Won NFL MVP or quarterbacked his team to a Super Bowl. Newton did that half a decade ago in his mid-20s. Now in his early 30s, his game might be different from what it was in his athletic prime. However, Newton has dominated at every level he has played and would have given a good Chargers roster even more punch in 2020.

Though the Chargers will be looking up at the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West with the likes of the Denver Broncos and the Las Vegas Chargers this season, better quarterback play beyond low-end starter Taylor or fledgling rookie Herbert could have had this team as a lock to make the postseason. Now, we’re just hoping the Chargers don’t finish in the AFC West cellar again.

Despite the Chargers making a wise decision to select Herbert out of Oregon with their top-10 pick, he’s not going to help them win big right away. Taylor may know Lynn’s offense better than Newton, but Newton’s ceiling will always be higher than that of Taylor’s. When it’s going good, there is no quarterback you’d want to lead your team than the elite frontrunner that is Newton.