Is Cam Newton about to get the best weapon he’s ever had?

Is former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton about to get the best weapon he’s ever had in Julio Jones?

It says a lot about what the New England Patriots think of Cam Newton that they decided to give him a one-year extension despite playing below the required standard in 2020. There were plenty of mitigating factors behind this, including the quarterback contracting COVID-19 when some momentum was building, but the 2015 NFL MVP will be on a short leash this time around after Bill Belichick opted to use his first-round pick on Alabama prospect Mac Jones.

Belichick has been unusually aggressive during the offseason, which has a lot to do with the Patriots missing the playoffs and quarterback Tom Brady winning his seventh Super Bowl title in his first year away from the franchise.

The pressure is on in New England for more progress in 2021 and there are far more weapons available for Newton than at any stage of the previous campaign.

And he could be set to get the best weapon in the passing game he’s ever had.

Cam Newton could get a dynamic weapon in Julio Jones this offseason.

Julio Jones is heading out of the Atlanta Falcons, with the wide receiver saying as much when Shannon Sharpe gave him a call during a recent episode of Undisputed. One can dispute whether it was ethically correct to not tell the All-Pro he was speaking live on-air until it was too late, but the sentiment of his comments was the strongest indicator yet he’s on his way out.

This is obviously great news for the Carolina Panthers, who won’t have to deal with Jones twice a season if he is eventually traded after June 1 for salary-cap purposes. But it could also give Newton the true No. 1 wideout he’s lacked throughout his career.

Steve Smith would be the closest thing Newton has had to this, albeit briefly before the feisty wideout left the Panthers for a stint with the Baltimore Ravens before calling it a day.

D.J. Moore was still learning his craft in 2018 as a rookie. Even though he did go over 1,000 yards receiving the following year, Newton was barely on the field due to injury.

Jones is reportedly interested in linking up with Newton, according to a recent report. The pair have built a close friendship over the years and this might lead to Belichick making a big splash to further enhance their chances of a postseason return.

Of course, just how long Newton will be starting in 2021 is another matter entirely.

He has to hit the ground running and every poor performance will come with calls to slot Mac Jones into the starting lineup. Some sections of New England’s fanbase haven’t taken to Newton, so it will be up to the signal-caller to raise his game accordingly to keep their latest first-round pick on the sidelines.

Newton has been working hard on improving his mechanics during the offseason, which did not go unnoticed by his teammates. He has far better weapons to utilize in the passing game after a frenzied period of free-agent activity, so adding a future Pro Football Hall of Famer in Julio Jones could get the Patriots and the quarterback back to prominence.

Considering this is unlikely to cost anything more than a second or even a third-round pick, it’s a no-brainer for many teams across the league. Belichick knows there is an increased sense of urgency surrounding his team next season after Brady got the upper hand with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which could lead him to make a bold bid for Jones and bring him to the AFC.

If the Patriots pull this off, nobody will be happier than Newton ahead of a critical campaign for the player.