Sporting News: Top Destinations for Cam are Titans, Chargers...

[NAS]

Media is still not buying that Cam won't be traded. Full article below. 

 

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/where-cam-newton-play-2020-panthers-patriots/1egndegcqjar21n4aodn5vl18a

 

Cam Newton continues to wait for a full 2020 commitment from the Panthers, and the Panthers continue to wait to see how healthy Newton will be coming off a season-ending foot injury.

 

But with NFL free agency around the corner, the clock is ticking for Carolina to finally decide whether its franchise quarterback will return for a 10th season.

MORE: Cam's future among Combine takeaways

The Panthers have entered semi-rebuilding mode with new coach Matt Rhule. On one hand, Rhule said he "absolutely" would like Newton as his QB for the first year of a new offense under first-year coordinator Joe Brady. On the other hand, trading Newton ahead of his age-31 season, before he becomes a free agent in 2021, would save the team $19.1 million in salary cap space.

Newton sticking around at a reasonable price to be the unquestioned starter makes sense. Looking at him as a bridge QB and putting him in prove-it mode does not. As for his trade value, Newton is unique compared to the QBs on the free-agent market because he has such a high ceiling and is not the typical caretaker type teams tend to acquire in these situations.

With all that in mind and knowing what we know now, here’s ranking the best fits for Newton, including right where he is.

1. Tennessee Titans

When Newton enjoyed his MVP season in 2015, the Panthers had a prolific running game, a top defense and a passing game featuring big plays from wide receivers and good tight end production. The Titans can provide the same kind of support for Newton with Derrick Henry, Mike Vrabel and A.J. Brown, among others.

Tennessee was on the brink of an AFC championship with Ryan Tannehill, but Newton carries much higher passing and rushing upside when healthy and is a little younger. Professionally, the move would give Newton another good shot at playoff success, and personally, it would keep him in the South.

Tennessee officials made it point to say during the Combine the team is keeping all of its quarterback options beyond re-signing Tannehill open. With the team in win-now mode and with no glaring holes, the Titans going after Newton makes a ton of sense.

(Getty Images)

Cam Newton

2. Los Angeles Chargers

After parting with Philip Rivers, the Chargers are the only team in the NFL with a guaranteed open starting spot heading into free agency. Coach Anthony Lynn has said the team is OK with promoting backup Tyrod Taylor if needed, but it’s clear Los Angeles should weigh all high-end rookie and veteran alternatives.

Even if the Chargers don’t re-sign Melvin Gordon as expected, Newton would mesh well in their offense, assuming tight end Hunter Henry is re-signed to flank Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler in the passing game. Lynn has done well with running QBs (see Taylor in Buffalo) in the past, and Newton brings a dimension that Rivers did not.

Los Angeles isn’t a bad place for a rejuvenation, and the Chargers with their defense can rebound to their playoff form of 2018. They have every reason to call the Panthers.

3. Carolina Panthers

Brady’s influence at LSU helped Joe Burrow have the best college passing season ever, culminating with a Heisman Trophy and a national championship. Brady, with his NFL experience, can adjust to Newton’s skill set and give the QB a much-needed boost late in his career.

The Panthers knew they would need to reconstruct their defense in many places for 2020 even before losing centerpiece Luke Kuechly to retirement. The offense will have more of a burden to win games, and between Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel and Ian Thomas, Carolina has plenty to lift Newton to a comeback season.

Carolina's alternatives are a high-drafted rookie or another free-agent veteran. Sticking with Door No. 1, though, might end up being the best option without too much of an investment. At worst, if it doesn’t work out with Newton in a contract year, the Panthers can dive head first into a draft class that should include Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields in 2021.

(Getty Images)

Cam Newton

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs are the hardest team in the NFL to read in terms of their quarterback plans for 2020. They are thinking about simply re-signing Jameis Winston, but they won’t go overboard with years and money. There have been hints about other free agents, from Rivers to Teddy Bridgewater to even Tom Brady.

Although Newton going to an NFC South rival would be weird, his going to a Bruce Arians offense would not be weird. The Bucs offer a top-notch receiving corps and a suddenly formidable defense. They should be focusing their draft picks on their blocking and running game.

Newton's big arm would work with Arians’ downfield passing concepts, and his mobility would be a nice bonus to both extend plays and supplement the rushing attack. The obvious hurdle would be pulling off a deal with a division rival, but there’s a precedent for such a QB move. In 2010, the Eagles traded a 33-year-old Donovan McNabb to the Redskins.

Arians would like his team to be more risk-adverse at quarterback after Winston’s interception fest of 2019. But a calculated chance on Newton, even at the cost at giving a South team some helpful compensation, could be the move to push Tampa Bay back to the playoffs.

MORE: Ranking the top NFL free agents in 2020

 

5. New England Patriots

The Patriots look like they’re headed toward a breakup with Brady in free agency. Based on their current makeup, they will be looking to win more with their running game and defense, which is basically what they were in both 2018 (Super Bowl champs) and 2019 (wild-card playoff losers).

Newton with Josh McDaniels and Bill Belichick doesn’t sound like a reasonable fit, but the Patriots will be prepared to embrace the challenge of a QB who is much younger than and different from Brady. Newton can be that independent, team-lifting dual threat again, but he is better served being more dependent on the assets around him.

The Patriots would do everything possible to adjust to Newton’s skill set and a find a way to be one step ahead of the rest of the league offensively.

[Waldo]

Anything could be on the table at this point and the media only gets paid if they talk about something. Who really knows beyond massive speculation? Time will tell what poo tossed actually sticks.

 

[JawnyBlaze]

Stupid.

[NAS]

What continues to baffle me is the media speculation that Panthers are willing to move on from Cam because he can't stay healthy, yet assume that someone is willing to trade for him or pay him a long term contract without taking his health into account.  You can't have it both ways.  

I think if Cam can show he still can make the throws and can move around on his feet that he will be our QB in 2020.  

[Thompcat]

4 minutes ago, NAS said:

What continues to baffle me is the media speculation that Panthers are willing to move on from Cam because he can't stay healthy, yet assume that someone is willing to trade for him or pay him a long term contract without taking his health into account.  You can't have it both ways.  

I think if Cam can show he still can make the throws and can move around on his feet that he will be our QB in 2020.  

I agree with this but I can see the organization not wanting to lose 2 years thinking Cam would be healthy. It is a real dilemma for all parties 

[steven8989]

I'm a huge Cam fan but don't understand why people want to keep him so bad. It's not like this damn team is a playoff team with him also u lost the QB of ur defense. U trade him and get something for him, not just cut him. I don't understand why nobody gets this. We are not getting 2015 Cam back so why even risk just losing him for no picks?

[Happy Panther]

2 minutes ago, steven8989 said:

I'm a huge Cam fan but don't understand why people want to keep him so bad. It's not like this damn team is a playoff team with him also u lost the QB of ur defense. U trade him and get something for him, not just cut him. I don't understand why nobody gets this. We are not getting 2015 Cam back so why even risk just losing him for no picks?

We want first half of 2018 Cam back. If he is healthy we could get that.

[steven8989]

1 minute ago, Happy Panther said:

We want first half of 2018 Cam back. If he is healthy we could get that.

We all want that but man it looks like he is always going to be one hit away from being hurt again.

[Silent Majority]

2 minutes ago, steven8989 said:

We all want that but man it looks like he is always going to be one hit away from being hurt again.

Who isn't...wtf are you talking about?

[joemac]

3 minutes ago, steven8989 said:

We all want that but man it looks like he is always going to be one hit away from being hurt again.

Every player in the league is one hit away from being hurt. 

[dave-o]

I am so ready for the Panthers to move on from Cam...

[MHS831]

1 minute ago, steven8989 said:

We all want that but man it looks like he is always going to be one hit away from being hurt again.

That is true for every player in the NFL.

If you want Cam's skill set, you go after him.  If you want Cam's skill set and you don't pursue him because he might get hurt again, you better have a solid plan B. 

Cam has an injury history, and his body could indeed be giving out.  However, it may not.  Ask the teams that passed on Brees.

Personally, I agree with you, but when you say "one hit away from being hurt again," that insinuates he was not hurt before the hit.  At this time, we don't know.  I think you take all factors into consideration, but these injuries were not related (same part of the body) and all players get injured at some point.  So if you do not sign a player because he could get hurt, you would have only the kicker and his holder on the roster.

[TheRed]

12 minutes ago, steven8989 said:

I'm a huge Cam fan but

Never seen this take before 

[mrcompletely11]

Imagine that, nobody is believing Rhules coachspeak. 

 

I honest to God thought the Bears would figure out a way to acquire him but maybe since he hasnt passed a physical yet they are holding off and going with mitch instead.  Seems weird