Cam Newton is returning to New England.
The Patriots re-signed Newton on a one-year contract worth up to $14 million, according to a source. The deal is heavy on incentives, so he would need to play incredibly well to earn the full amount. Otherwise, it will be millions less.
Last season, Newton earned about $3.9 million of his contract, which was worth up to $7.5 million based on playing time and postseason success.
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How he fits: Here’s the most important thing: This contract will not prevent the Patriots from continuing to scour the quarterback market via trade, free agency and the draft. Newton is not locked in as the starter. More on that later.
There’s a feeling in Foxboro that Newton would have performed better in 2020 if he had more help around him at wide receiver and tight end, and a decent chunk of the Patriots’ $68 million in cap space will go toward rectifying that issue. Newton, who turns 32 in May, ranked first among quarterbacks last season with 12 rushing touchdowns and third with 592 rushing yards, but he was last among 35 qualifying quarterbacks with 177.1 passing yards per game, 34th with eight touchdown passes, 28th with an 82.9 passer rating and 18th with a 65.8 completion percentage.
He averaged 216.6 passing and rushing yards per game, which ranked 29th out of those 35 qualifying quarterbacks. He compiled 20 passing and rushing touchdowns, which was tied for the 21st most in the league. Including completion percentage and passer rating, only Sam Darnold, Nick Foles and Dwayne Haskins ranked worse than Newton in all four categories.
Newton should improve with more help around him, but he must also play better in his own right.
2021 impact: It’s unclear how much money is guaranteed in Newton’s contract, but it sounds like enough to be sure he’ll be on the roster for the full season, even if he doesn’t win the starting job. Backup quarterbacks earn plenty of guaranteed money, too: Taysom Hill ($17 million), Nick Foles ($17 million), Case Keenum ($8 million), Marcus Mariota ($7.5 million), Tyrod Taylor ($6 million) and Chase Daniel ($5 million).
Offseason impact: There’s merit to having Newton in place for the start of free agency, with the two-day legal tampering period beginning Monday. As the Patriots work to reel in offensive pieces, it’ll help to have a quarterback in place. It’s too early to know if Newton’s presence will be enough to attract players like Hunter Henry or Curtis Samuel, but it’s better than telling them, “Well, there are options out there, and we’ll figure it out.”
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Cap update: It won’t be a $14 million cap hit. Based on the incentives — this is just a guess — it might be closer to $8-10 million. If Newton earns the $14 million, it’d mean he had a terrific season.
Outlook: The Patriots have remained active on the trade front, and they’ve aggressively scouted quarterback prospects Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields and Mac Jones. So far, the veteran trade market has been inflated, which has kept Jimmy Garoppolo in San Francisco and Mariota in Las Vegas. If those teams drop their prices, the Patriots could add to the quarterback competition. The Patriots could also attempt to move up the draft board to find their long-term answer at quarterback. Lance, for example, probably needs to sit for a season and would benefit from learning behind Newton. Their quarterback puzzle is not yet complete.
(Photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
