By Jordan Long
The New England Patriots added depth to their quarterback position, agreeing to a 1-year deal with Cam Newton. The contract is for the league minimum, but it can be worth up to $7.5 million with incentives. This gives the Patriots a veteran quarterback and a chance for Newton to compete for the starting job.
Cam was the 1st pick taken in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He was the starter day 1. With the Panthers, Newton passed for 29,041 yards, 182 touchdowns, and 108 interceptions. He was also a threat to run the football. Newton’s speed allowed him to dodge defenders and it was difficult to bring him down. His runs were first downs or longer. He totaled 4,806 rushing yards with 58 touchdowns.
Newton’s starting record is 68-55-1. The Panthers advanced to the playoffs 4 times with him including a trip to Super Bowl 50 only to lose to the Denver Broncos.
Last year Newton appeared in a career-low 2 games. He dealt with a Lisfranc injury after week 2. The Panthers finished 5-11. The Panthers decided to release Cam Newton on March 24th, 2020. They tried to trade him but no teams were interested. This was the 1st time in Newton’s career he was a free agent.
It took a while for him to find a new home. Finally, the New England Patriots called because they needed a quarterback after Tom Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On the roster, New England quarterbacks are Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham. They were supposed to battle it out for the #1 quarterback spot before New England agreed to a deal with Newton. Hoyer is the veteran with 11 years of experience. His record as a starter is 16-22. He knows the New England offense because he played there 4 years. For Stidham, he is in his second year and still learning the offense. New England knew they needed another quarterback to add to the mix. Newton is going to have his chance to show what he can do in New England.
Newton must learn the playbook. It is a different style of offense than he ran in Carolina. In Carolina, he ran the run-option. Newton could decide if he wanted to throw the football or run it. In New England, the quarterback is mostly in the shotgun and throws from the pocket. It is possible offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels creates an offense around Newton’s strengths if he wins the starting job.
New England may not have found the replacement for Tom Brady but Newton at least improves the quarterback position. The worst case is Newton doesn’t work out and New England could let him go before the beginning of the regular season.
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