4 logical landing spots for Cam Newton in 2022 free agency
By Dean Jones
San Francisco 49ers
This might not sound like a big need for the San Francisco 49ers right now. But if the team moves on from Jimmy Garoppolo during the offseason, they will need a stable backup behind Trey Lance.
The Niners gave up a substantial amount of draft capital for Lance, surging right up to No. 3 for the North Dakota State product. The gunslinger has been used sparingly as a rookie, but expectations will go through the roof in Year 2 providing the necessary adjustments come.
Garoppolo steered San Francisco to the postseason, so his trade value will never be higher. If the organization does decide to recoup some draft picks in return, then someone like Cam Newton could factor into the equation.
Newton seems like a good fit in Kyle Shanahan’s offense and would give Lance a supreme role model to learn from during his transition into a starting role. This might also provide San Francisco with another weapon to use in the red zone and on running downs, where the former Heisman Trophy winner remains a threat despite his advancing years.
This all depends on whether the Niners ship off Garoppolo to a quarterback-needy team. But if this situation comes to fruition, signing Newton becomes an intriguing backup option for a team that has a phenomenal offensive line to work behind.