It has been widely reported that the Panthers will look to trade Cam Newton this offseason, but that is not a decision the team has made yet. While Kyle Allen looked at one point like he was stating his case to be the quarterback of the future in Carolina, things appear to be less certain as the season winds down.
Newton recently underwent surgery to repair the foot injury that cost him the majority of the 2019 season, and Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman was told by a source that the Panthers have not made any decisions about whether or not they will part ways with the former NFL MVP. Injuries have obviously been a major factor in Newton’s declining performance in recent seasons, so it makes sense for Carolina to wait and see how healthy he looks after his foot is healed.
Early indications have been that Newton will be fully healthy by March, which is when the Panthers must decide if they want to keep him on the roster and guarantee his $18.6 million salary for 2020. Of course, they could still trade him after that, and plenty of teams would be interested as long as the foot injury is no longer an issue.
Newton’s $18.6 million salary for next season is a bargain for a starting quarterback, especially one with his skillset. He’s also still only 30, which is why it sounds like the Panthers will need to be blown away by an offer if they move him. Carolina could decide it is too risky to give Newton a contract extension given his injury history, in which case trading him may be the best option.
If Newton is healthy, he can certainly help a contending team. The Chicago Bears have been mentioned frequently as a potential suitor for him, but other teams are sure to be interested as well.
