3 free agents the Patriots should avoid in the 2021 offseason
1. Cam Newton
Newton’s inability to throw the ball last season did more to damage the Patriots’ offense than anything else. Bringing him back to reprise his role in 2021 would be an exercise in utter futility.
Proponents of the former MVP will look back on his highlights running the football as a sign that he hasn’t lost the athleticism that made him a star during his tenure in Carolina. Those highlights are impressive, but they lack the context that he was completely unable to throw the ball at a reasonable level a season ago.
Yes, Newton managed to complete 65% of his passes, but his pitiful average of 7.2 yards per attempt illustrates just how limited he was throwing the ball. Combine that with 10 interceptions against just 8 touchdowns and it’s easy to understand why the Patriots struggled to move the ball consistently.
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Newton clearly believes the lack of a normal offseason harmed his play in 2020. He may be right, but betting on his body to improve during his age-32 season is a bad bet for the Patriots. They can’t afford to roll the dice on Newton under center for a second consecutive season.