Cam Newton’s one-year deal deal with the Patriots is the steal of the NFL’s 2020 free agent class. According to Jason La Canfora, Newton’s contract has a base salary of just $1.05 million with about half of that guaranteed at signing. The deal includes roster bonuses and incentives that could be worth up to another $6.45 million.
It’s more than just a little stunning to see a former MVP quarterback sign for this amount.
There were of course a lot of factors. The Panthers didn’t do Newton any favors by releasing him as late as they did, when most teams had already filled their roster holes at quarterback. His recent history of injuries and the complications of the pandemic all played a part in driving his price down.
That said, New England getting Newton at a bargain seems unfair. The Patriots have dominated the league for most of the last 20 years because they exploit every competitive advantage and market inefficency that they can – at times even stepping over the line and breaking the rules. In this case, the rest of the NFL was just too stupid not to take a chance on Cam.
Carolina’s decision to move on from Newton was questionable, but at the very least it saved them $19 million in salary cap space. Teams like the Chargers and the soon-to-be-former Redskins have no excuse and should have made an offer.
The rich get richer. We wish Newton well and expect he will cash in next year after a successful 2020 season.
