2. Cam Newton
The biggest name this offseason at the quarterback position is the 2015 MVP and three-time Pro Bowler. When Newton is good, there aren’t many QBs in the league much better. His MVP season was one of the best over the last decade and his flair for the dramatic is as entertaining as any player the Raiders have ever had under center. Thanks to injury and some bad timing, Newton was benched and shut down for the season in favor of rookie quarterback Kyle Allen.
The Panthers, who recently fired their head coach, will be rebuilding under a new regime and should to trade Newton during the offseason if they receive a “large deal,” according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Raiders have a few extra picks sitting around thanks to the Khalil Mack trade with Chicago. Perhaps one first rounder and a second or third rounder might do the trick, but it sounds like the Carolina Panthers could follow the previous blueprint used by the Kansas City Chiefs, who traded Alex Smith two years ago for a third-rounder and starting cornerback Kendall Fuller, or the Denver Broncos, who traded for Joe Flacco in exchange for a fourth-rounder.
Newton will undergo surgery for a Lisfranc injury to his foot this week. He has not played since Week 2 due to the injury. Newton hopes to be fully able and ready to play by March. The former No. 1 overall pick is owed $18.6 million in 2020 and will be a free agent in 2021 barring a contract extension. As Carolina’s starting quarterback since 2011, he’s posted a 68–55–1 record, leading the Panthers to the playoffs four times. Newton and the Panthers reached Super Bowl 50 in 2015 before eventually losing to the Broncos.
The Auburn product is the Panthers’ franchise leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns. The trade is risky because of Newton’s questionable health the last few years but a healthy Cam is a force to be reckoned with and could come at a lessor cost than hanging on to Derek Carr. Also, $2.9 million of Carr’s 2020 salary fully guarantees on the 3rd waiver period (2/5/2020) so the Raiders could cut Carr then trade for Newton.
Might be a situation to keep an eye on.
