Cam Newton is set to undergo surgery on his Lisfranc injury this week and should be fully healed by March, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning that Newton’s comeback will likely be with a different team.
From @NFLGameDay: The #Panthers are expected to seek a trade for QB Cam Newton this offseason (https://t.co/bCFjPn5Y6Z) and they should get a high price for the former MVP if Newton is healthy. pic.twitter.com/wEYxz3gS35
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 8, 2019
Per Rapoport, the Panthers can save all of Newton’s $19 million cap hit in 2020 if they release him, but instead they plan on exploring his trade value. The Panthers are reportedly looking to get a “bounty” of draft picks in exchange for the former No. 1 overall pick and MVP.
Rapoport speculates that Newton’s value will lie somewhere in between the two draft picks the Eagles got for Sam Bradford in 2016 and the fourth-round pick the Broncos gave up for Joe Flacco last offseason.
“This is going to take over everything we talk about in March,” Rapoport concluded.
Newton’s future with the team has been called into question for almost the entire season. His lackluster beginning to the year, coupled with the Lisfranc injury to his foot that ended his season and the emergence of backup Kyle Allen, have all given fans reason to speculate. The recent firing of head coach Ron Rivera also put more gasoline on the fire of questions surrounding the franchise QB’s fate.
There is no doubt that when healthy, Newton is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Maybe a change of scenery is what he needs to get back to his MVP form.
