How much will Cam Newton command in 2021 free agency?
By Dean Jones
How much money will Cam Newton command in 2021 free agency?
It won’t be much longer before the rumor-mill starts churning once again regarding Cam Newton. The former Carolina Panthers quarterback is a free agent after signing a one-year, bargain-basement deal with the New England Patriots after his release from the team he did so much for resulted in very few alternative options elsewhere.
This is always going to be a black mark on the franchise. Cam Newton’s influence on the Panthers from the moment he ended up in Carolina as the No. 1 overall pick in 2011 deserved much better and it understandably left large sections of the team’s fanbase absolutely furious.
The Panthers were well within their right to move on from Newton. They had a new coaching staff coming in and the player hadn’t been reliable from a health perspective. But the way it was handled was nothing short of abysmal.
Newton has proven that his foot and shoulder problems are now a thing of the past – albeit he did have a short spell on the sidelines after contracting COVID-19. The Patriots aren’t out of the playoff picture just yet despite a host of offseason opt-outs and a lack of playmakers on offense. But it’s hard to deny the 2015 NFL MVP has been a big part of whatever success has come their way.
Whether Newton’s stay in Foxborough will last longer than this season is up for debate. However, his level of production should ensure plenty of interest from elsewhere if Bill Belichick decides not to keep him around.