New Orleans Saints
Wouldn’t this be a turnup for the books?
The New Orleans Saints have been a long-time thorn in the Carolina Panthers’ side through the years. But with Sean Payton departing as head coach and the team about to embark on some significant salary-cap difficulties, it could be a period of transition for a franchise that is also looking for a long-term solution at quarterback.
Jameis Winston stepped into the starting role after Drew Brees called it a day. He was inconsistent before a serious knee injury put him on the shelf and it remains to be seen whether a new head coach will want to move forward with an injury-hit quarterback who has been known to turn the football over consistently.
Perhaps going down the draft route would be a wise move considering the Saints are currently $76 million over the cap, according to Spotrac. Gaining a top-end college recruit and signing a veteran like Cam Newton capable of steering them in the right direction could be highly beneficial – although convincing the veteran to join an NFC South rival might be a tall order.
The elephant in the room is obviously Taysom Hill, who got a big-money deal from New Orleans despite showing little to suggest he can be a productive signal-caller at the next level.
Playing against the Carolina Panthers would be a surreal experience for Newton. But if he wants to remain in the league, he cannot afford to turn away any offer at this stage of his career.