Odds Favor Cam Newton Playing for the Chicago Bears in 2020

• Cam Newton passed for 572 yards with no touchdowns before hitting injured reserve this season
• The Chicago Bears are favored to be the landing spot for Newton in 2020
• The Tennessee Titans could be a solid value play at +900 as their system is quite similar to Carolina’s

The Carolina Panthers’ marriage to Cam Newton appears to be coming to an end. The nine-year veteran is now favored to be the starting quarterback of the Chicago Bears in Week 1 of the 2020 season. Assuming the Panthers move on from Newton, what’s a likely landing spot for him?

Odds on Cam Newton’s Team in Week 1, 2020

Odds taken Nov. 20.

Bears Favored To Land Newton

The Chicago Bears went 12-4 last season and were a genuine Super Bowl contender. As they trek through 2019, it’s become evident that this current roster is limited by the quarterback play. Former #2-overall pick Mitchell Trubisky was essentially benched on Sunday and the team is likely to find other options in the offseason.

The Bears feel like they’re just a quarterback away from contending, so that’s why adding Newton makes a lot of sense. They don’t want another youngster who needs time to develop when the rest of the roster could be playoff-caliber tomorrow. They can’t afford another college kid who might disappoint.

The trouble here is that head coach Matt Nagy runs an offense that emphasizes quick, accurate throws and that’s never really been Newton’s strength. They might prefer someone like Nick Foles, Eli Manning or Philip Rivers. Remember, Rivers is set to be a free agent while Foles could get cut loose, too, if he doesn’t outplay Gardner Minshew down the stretch.

Will Newton Return To Carolina?

The Panthers are on the board here at +375, so they are no longer the favorite, yet are not a longshot by any stretch of the imagination. Newton is still expected to be a starting quarterback in 2020 – wherever he is – and the Panthers are one place that makes a lot of sense.

The Panthers have been thinking about a succession plan for Newton but things have not worked out as expected. Undrafted free agent Kyle Allen came in and won his first four starts of the season, throwing seven touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s now lost three of his last four outings, tossing three touchdowns with nine interceptions.

The team also drafted former West Virginia quarterback Will Grier in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft but he hasn’t shown much so far. In other words, the Panthers don’t really have any better option right now.

The team’s ownership came out this week and said that they won’t stand for mediocrity. Well, if that puts some pressure on the coaching staff, said staff will not want to regress at the most important position on the field. If the heat is on Ron Rivera, his best bet is to go with former-MVP Newton.

Had Allen maintained his strong play, had Grier flashed, or had the Panthers had any other options, they would look to part ways with Newton. However, their best path to success in 2020 is with him under center right now. That’s why they might be the best bet at +375.

Tennessee Titans Worth A Look

The Titans are an intriguing option on the board because they are very likely going to need a quarterback in the offseason. They might keep Ryan Tannehill but they are surely done with Marcus Mariota and the prospect of adding Cam Newton could be very appealing.

To start, the Titans need some star power. While Newton has lost some of his luster, he still has that star quality to him when he’s healthy. Secondly, he’d be a solid fit in their system. Remember, they like to run the ball a lot and lean on their solid defense; they don’t demand as much from their quarterbacks. The offense is quite similar to Carolina’s.

A lot of teams shopping for quarterbacks might be worried about having Newton change his style late in his career. He might not be a great fit in a pass-first offense but Tennessee wouldn’t offer those challenges. This is one landing spot that makes a lot of sense.