The New England Patriots are re-signing quarterback Cam Newton to a one-year deal, according to The Boston Globe’s Jim McBride. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN confirmed McBride’s report.
Though he will rejoin the Patriots, they will not rule out adding more talent at the quarterback position, per multiple reports. The deal is scaled to have Newton earning more than he did in 2020, according to NFL Network. In 2020, Newton played on a one-year deal that was worth up to $7.5 million in incentives.
His 2020 season with the Patriots was inconsistent. He completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 2,657 yards, eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He added 592 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. New England finished 7-9, with Newton missing one game after contracting COVID-19.
Patriots are bringing back Cam Newton but it doesn’t preclude them from making another QB move in the weeks to come, per league sources. This move locks in a QB heading into free agency. https://t.co/hgf4ZhqM5w
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2021
During an appearance on “I AM ATHLETE” podcast, Newton indicated he felt a second season in New England could be better than his first.
“Doughboy [N’Keal Harry] knows me. Jakobi [Meyers] knows me. Bud [Damiere Byrd] knows me,” Newton said. “The young tight ends know me. The younger guys that are going to come in know me,” he said. “Like, we’re still trying to flush out the 20 years of how it used to be. And I’m going in and I’m saying, ‘That’s not me.’ ”
Perhaps he and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels can find a way to make the playbook suit Newton in a better way.
Newton will return to a quarterback group that includes Jarrett Stidham, who failed to beat out Newton in 2020. It’s likely New England continues to add more talent at the position, whether in free agency (which opens March 17), in the draft (which starts April 29), or by trade.
