Cam Newton and Patriots run it back: Why Bill Belichick made right decision

Cam Newton and the New England Patriots agreed to a one-year contract Friday, ahead of free agency

The New England Patriots and quarterback Cam Newton came to terms on a one-year contract Friday, ahead of free agency and the new league-year beginning next week, the Boston Globe reports.

Newton, 31, had a wildly inconsistent 2020 campaign in his first season playing under head coach Bill Belichick, but still completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 2,657 yards with eight touchdowns to 10 interceptions, while adding 592 rushing yards and 12 more scores.

However, while Newton faded down the stretch and his accuracy became wildly erratic over the final weeks of the season, the former Carolina Panther was off to an MVP caliber start prior to being diagnosed with COVID-19 in early October.

Why re-signing Cam Newton is the right choice for the New England Patriots

Through the first three games, Newton completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 714 yards with two touchdowns to two interceptions, while rushing for 149 yards and four scores as New England jumped out to a 2-1 start.

Post-COVID-19, Newton’s completion percentage dipped to 64.9 and as he passed for 1,943 yards with six touchdowns to eight interceptions, and he was sacked 26 times over the final 12 weeks.

Bringing Newton back on a one-year contract makes a lot of sense for Belichick and the Patriots, as Newton will have a year of familiarity in New England’s system under his belt when the new season begins.

Similarly, a one-year pact is a tacit commitment, which could still allow the Patriots to target a quarterback with the No. 15 pick in the NFL Draft — or conceivably trade up to acquire one — with Newton as a veteran bridge on the roster.

Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.