NFL Rumors: Patriots Likely Tanking If They Pass Up Newton

The 2020 NFL Draft is over and done with and now the focus is expected to shift on free agents. And if one goes through the list, the big fish that most teams are surprising ignoring is Cam Newton. The former NFL MVP has yet to hook up with a new team with no mention of talks being aired publicly.

Newton found himself without a team after the Carolina Panthers opted to go in a different direction. The reason behind it was mainly due to the 30-year-old's date with injuries. Last season, he played only 2 games last NFL season due to a Lisfranc fracture. Healing slower than expected, the Panthers could not wait and eventually released him on Mar. 24.

With a new breed of younger and presumably health quarterbacks coming in, the teams where Newton could end up have grown smaller. There are suggestions that he could end up taking a backup quarterback and mentoring role although that may not entirely work. Aware that he is still young and can carry a team on his shoulders (if healthy), Newton is seen as the type of guy who would rather do it himself than babysit a younger QB, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported.

One team that makes sense is the New England Patriots. Some may consider this old news but it remains that the Pats could put him to good use. Instead, Bill Belichick is turning to Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer to call the plays. Most questions the ability of both players. Stidham has never made an NFL start while Hoyer is unlikely to hold up efficiently.

The decision of the Pats to stick it out with Stidham and Hoyer is puzzling. Some feel that New England has something up its sleeve and there is a fair chance they may tank to gain a better chance of drafting high next year. Newton is undoubtedly a better option although injuries raise big questions. The least Robert Kraft could do is check out his medical records and use it as a basis to make an offer - even for just a year.

Though reasonable, Michael Giardi is one of several onlookers who are left ruffled. But just the same, he too agrees that nothing has changed as far as Newton coming close to signing with the Patriots. Hence, all Newton can do for now is wait and see which team could come calling for him to play next NFL season.