After NFL Draft, Odds Favor Cam Newton Signing with Patriots
- We’re through the NFL Draft and free agency, and Cam Newton is still looking for a new team
- The New England Patriots are favored to land him because they’re one of the few teams still in (possible) need of a starting quarterback
- The Pittsburgh Steelers could offer some value here – if Newton doesn’t mind being a backup to start the season
The NFL Draft has come and gone, and the free agency frenzy is in the rearview mirror. As we look up now, former Carolina Panthers franchise quarterback Cam Newton still doesn’t have a home. While that’s a bit surprising, books have posted props as to where he’ll end up. The New England Patriots are favored to land but are they the best bet?
Odds on Cam Newton’s Team for Week 1, 2020
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| New England Patriots | +150 |
| Washington Redskins | +175 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +450 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +550 |
| Denver Broncos | +600 |
Odds taken April 29th.
Patriots Favored to Land Newton
One of the reasons the Patriots are favored to end up with Newton is because they’re one of the last teams that might be looking for a quarterback. The Indianapolis Colts signed Philip Rivers long ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got Tom Brady, the Chicago Bears have addressed their opening and the Los Angeles Chargers have their guys too.
The Bears were originally favored to land Newton but after they acquired Nick Foles, it was the Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots that were all viewed as the new favorites.
The Patriots are one of the few teams that might still be shopping as their current plan of going into the season with Jarrett Stidham as the starter is a shaky one. The challenge for Newton is that the Patriots still have a whole host of options and there are virtually no rumors linking the Pats to Newton.
Yea, this will always be at GOAT moment from Cam Newton.
— John Ellis (@OnePantherPlace) April 28, 2020
The other key here is the Patriots can go in other directions. For example, someone like Josh Rosen, who is just two years removed from being a first-round pick, could probably be had for virtually nothing. Or a more experienced starter like Andy Dalton – who might be a better fit than Newton – is also available.
Maybe even the Patriots convince the Colts to offer back Jacoby Brissett, who has now lost his starting job or they decide to kick the tires on Joe Flacco. Those are less likely scenarios but it shows that the Patriots are not stuck here. They have some options.
Would the Redskins Bite?
The Washington Redskins connection makes some sense as Ron Rivera now runs the team and he was Newton’s former head coach. Clearly, they have a relationship. The issue is that the Redskins appear to be stocked at the position. They have last year’s first-round pick in Dwayne Haskins and they also acquired Kyle Allen from the Panthers this offseason.
Who's a better fit for Cam Newton: the Broncos or the Redskins? pic.twitter.com/cMysKaqiKy
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 23, 2020
At this point, this doesn’t make a lot of sense for them to be adding Newton. The only way they make this move is if they truly believe that Haskins is a bust but it’s probably too early in the process to make that judgment.
So What’s the Best Bet?
This is a tough one all the way around as I don’t see any of the teams on the board as being a good fit. I’d definitely pass on the Patriots and Redskins as the favorites, and the next wave includes the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos.
The Broncos are a longshot but they appear to be set with Drew Lock, who played well to end the 2019 season. As for the Jaguars and Steelers, they’re both possibilities but both have quarterbacks already. The Jags are going to give an extended look to Gardner Minshew II here and if it doesn’t work out, they probably tank for Trevor Lawrence.
Cam Newton, a physical specimen at 30, has been relegated to the scrapheap.
Meanwhile, Harry from “Harry and the Hendersons” is pushing 40 with a dad bod.
The Steelers have been loyal and fully committed.
Like Eisen said: loyalty is a 2-way street.
pic.twitter.com/bOUemfCAUW— John Ellis (@OnePantherPlace) March 21, 2020
As for the Steelers, they have Ben Roethlisberger, so adding Newton probably creates some chemistry problems. At the same time, the Steelers are in a win-now mode with a solid defense and an offense that has plenty of weapons. The injury to Big Ben derailed their 2019 campaign and we saw how bad things were from their backups.
Newton to the Steelers does make sense – as long as Newton is comfortable with being a backup. If Big Ben isn’t who he used to be or gets hurt again, the Steelers could still compete for a playoff spot with Newton under center.
I actually don’t love any of the options on the board but from what’s available, I’d bet the Steelers. That’s the one that makes the most sense to me.
For over 15 years, Dave has been working in mainstream media and sports betting. He hosted a station on Sirius Satellite Radio for four years, and is currently a senior writer for AskMen. He's interviewed hundreds of hundreds of high-profile sports stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Floyd Mayweather.
