There are still some very good quarterbacks available in the free-agent market. There are also a few more that appear as though they are on the way out of their respective franchises. One of those quarterbacks is former No. 1 overall draft pick and NFL MVP Cam Newton.
The question heading into the 2020 season is where will Newton end up come September. The bigger question is for bettors. How can they add to their bankrolls by betting on which team scores the veteran quarterback?
Cam Newton – History
There is no question as to the talents of Newton, a former No. 1 overall draft pick in 2011. He burst onto the scene by earning the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year throwing for what is still a career-high 4,576 yards in 2011. He also ran for 706 yards and totaled 35 touchdowns.
Just four years later, Newton was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player throwing for 3,837 yards and 35 touchdowns as he led Carolina to Super Bowl 50. Newton has thrown for over 29,000 yards, 182 touchdowns and has an overall record of 68-55-1 as a starter. Again, there is no question as to his ability.
The only looming question surrounding Newton would be his health. He was pretty durable over the first eight years of his NFL career starting all 16 games in five of the eight seasons. He has never started fewer than 14 games.
Still, Newton had a nagging shoulder injury during the 2018 season and then missed the bulk of last season with a Lisfranc fracture. His healing went much slower than anticipated.
The injury might be a concern to any team looking to sign the veteran quarterback. And betting on Newton could be a risk in light of this history.
Where in the NFL is Cam?
When the Panthers elected to sign Teddy Bridgewater, it was clear that Newton was done in Carolina. With some years left in the tank, Newton has several options. The question is whether or not teams will want to take a chance on the nine-year NFL veteran.
The most logical landing spot for Newton would be the Washington Redskins. New head coach Ron Rivera coached Newton in Carolina and knows what he would be getting in his former starter. Washington isn’t sold on last year’s first-round pick Dwayne Haskins, but the Redskins did acquire Kyle Allen from Carolina in the offseason.
Allen actually started 12 games in place of Newton last season. Don’t forget, former Washington starter Alex Smith is attempting a comeback as well. With that in mind, it’s kind of a stretch to bet on Newton becoming a Redskin at +850.
It’s possible that Newton ends up in Florida. Miami, of course, is in need of a quarterback. The Dolphins are expected to select either Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon’s Justin Herbert in the first round of the 2020 draft.
Miami still has Josh Rosen but could bring in Newton to compete for the starting job and act as a mentor to their draft pick. Newton to Miami is a more likely result at +250.
Jacksonville, which decided to go with Gardner Minshew as its starter, traded away Nick Foles after signing him for big money last offseason. With Josh Dobbs, the only other quarterback on the Jags roster, a Newton to Jacksonville bet seems to offer more betting value at +300.
There is also talk of Newton to Denver (+500) or New England (+500). The Broncos appear to be set on Drew Lock and they have two young prospects in Jeff Driskel and Brett Rypien. In New England, head coach Bill Belichick looks to be going with Jarrett Stidham with veteran Brian Hoyer as the backup.
The favorite to obtain Newton is the Los Angeles Chargers. The odds Newton ends up wearing the lightning bolt check-in at +175 betting odds. Philip Rivers left in free agency to Indianapolis. Right now, head coach Anthony Lynn appears as though he will go with journeyman Tyrod Taylor as the starter.
The Chargers are another team likely to select a quarterback in Round 1 of the upcoming draft. Even if they do, bringing Newton in to compete for the job would make sense.
The one longshot bet that could payoff is Newton ending up with Jon Gruden in Las Vegas. It’s no secret that Gruden has tired of current starter Derek Carr. That’s why former No. 1 draft pick and Tennessee starter Marcus Mariota was signed.
Bringing Newton in might look like a crowd at the quarterback water cooler, but the Raiders can afford it. Las Vegas has plenty of salary cap room to work with so signing Newton would not be a problem. In the end, one of the three would likely be released giving the Raiders a nice one-two punch at quarterback.
Newton to Las Vegas is priced at +1050 betting odds, but it’s the one longshot bet that is truly possible.