NFL free agency 2021: Best quarterbacks available

4. Cam Newton

The Patriots brought Newton in with the hope that he could recapture the magic that made him an MVP with the Panthers. That never happened. Instead of turning in a starring performance, Newton stumbled to a 7-8 record as a starter in New England.

His 10 interceptions compared to just eight touchdown passes really illustrates his struggles making plays with his arm. Newton never looked comfortable pushing the ball down the field with any authority. It’s fair to point out that he wasn’t blessed with great receivers in 2020, but there aren’t many wideouts in the league who could have reeled in many of his errant throws from a season ago.

The only time Newton really looked dangerous for the Patriots was when they turned him loose in the run game. He’s still got excellent speed and is a really physical runner when he gets out on the edge. Exposing him to a ton of hits is a risky proposition given his lengthy injury history, but it may be the best way to get short-term value out of Newton at this stage in his career.

The real question teams need to ask is whether or not Newton can be comfortable as a backup. If so, he might be a reasonable gamble. If he’s determined to be a starter, any team with playoff aspirations should look elsewhere.