Seahawks: 3 QBs to add who are better than Geno Smith

Cam Newton

Cam Newton would have been a starting quarterback for the Patriots if not for Mac Jones, but that doesn’t seem to have improved his stock as he sits in free agency.

Faith in Newton was renewed when the Patriots signed him in 2020, but so much misfortune befell the quarterback that it became impossible to succeed in that environment.

Newton dealt with COVID-19 last season and it took him weeks to recover, not to mention there was at least a close Seahawks and Chiefs game that Newton could have potentially won.

The Patriots knew their 7-9 record wasn’t all on Newton, and head coach Bill Belichick stood by Cam as their 2021 starter until late August. Belichick saw the potential Cam had, but Mac Jones’ play style and accuracy had the advantage over the 32-year-old veteran.

Still, Newton sits in free agency as the top quarterback prospect for multiple teams to sign, including the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unlike Minshew and Foles, Newton headed into the 2021 season as the only starting quarterback on this list. In Newton’s own words, it’s because he has the “aura” of a starting quarterback that would have made it difficult to stay in New England.

“The reason why they released me is because indirectly, I was going to be a distraction without being the starter,” Newton said in a video released shortly after the cut. “Just my aura. And I told you this off camera. That’s my gift and my curse. When you bring Cam Newton into your facility, when you bring Cam Newton to your franchise. People are interested. ‘Who is he? Why does he wear his hair? Why does he talk? Why does he act? Why does he perform?’ All these questions.

Let me be honest with you. If they would have asked me would I play behind, if they said ‘Cam we’re going to give the team to Mac. You’re going to be the second stringer. We expect you to be everything and some to guide him throughout this tenure.’ I would have said, ‘Absolutely.’ The truth of the matter is this: he would have been uncomfortable.”

If Newton played out the rest of the season in Seattle, it would give Newton the opportunity to make his case to start for another NFL team in 2021.