There hasn’t been a free-agent quarterback who has truly exceled since Drew Brees signed with the Saints in 2006. That’s mainly because good quarterbacks rarely hit the open market.
But that could change in 2020. There’s a growing chance that two former No. 1 overall picks who’ve enjoyed some NFL success could be free agents next year. We’re talking about Carolina’s Cam Newton and Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston. Newton remains under contract to the Panthers for next year, but that could change. Winston’s contract expires after this season.
Let’s look at why Newton and Winston could hit free agency and what they could bring to a new team.
Why Cam Newton could be gone from Carolina
It took me a while to buy into the hype over Kyle Allen, Carolina’s second-year quarterback. But I’m sold on Allen now. All the guy does is win, and he does it efficiently. In his fourth start of the season, he got his fourth win, beating Tampa Bay in London. He completed 20 of 32 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Allen still hasn’t thrown an interception this season. So what do the Panthers do when or if franchise quarterback Cam Newton returns from a foot injury? The answer is becoming obvious. They stick with Allen, because they’ve struck gold with the 2018 undrafted free agent. In fact, Newton’s future with the Panthers is in doubt. He’s 30, but his ailment is a Lisfranc injury, which is more severe than a sprain. Newton also had major shoulder surgery in the offseason. Is Newton breaking down physically? It sure looks that way. Plus, there are other factors to consider. The first is Newton’s contract. It ends after the 2020 season, but it could be terminated before that. Newton is scheduled to count $21 million against next year’s salary cap. If the Panthers cut him after this season, they’ll free up $19 million in cap space for next year. In addition to Allen, the Panthers also have rookie quarterback Will Grier, a third-round pick out of West Virginia.
Why Cam Newton could help another team
At least in his prime, Newton was a supreme talent. He had a big arm and running ability. The arm hasn’t been the same since he first injured the shoulder. Add the foot injury at age 30, and his days of frequent running could be over. But, maybe all Newton needs is more rest and a fresh start somewhere else. If he can get healthy again, he’s at least a top-10 quarterback. He could give another team a good five years or so. Remember, Newton was Most Valuable Player and led the Panthers to the Super Bowl in the 2015 season. Maybe aybe Newton can get back to that form.
Why Jameis Winston could be gone from Tampa Bay
With the arrival of quarterback guru Bruce Arians, the Bucs thought the new coach could turn Winston around and everyone would live happily ever after. It was pretty much assumed that Winston, who is in the last year of his rookie contract, would become the first quarterback drafted by the Bucs ever to get a second contract with the franchise. But now, that’s very much in doubt. Winston was horrible against the Panthers. Even though he threw for 400 yards, that doesn’t come close to telling the real story. Winston threw five interceptions, lost a fumble and was sacked seven times. At this point, there’s no way the Bucs can afford to give him a huge, long-term contract. Unless he suddenly lights it up the rest of the season, one of three things will happen. First, the Bucs could draft a quarterback, but that would mean starting over. Second, they sign a free agent. The third and most-likely scenario would be for the Bucs to place the franchise tag on Winston and give him one more year to prove his worth.
Why Jameis Winston could help another team
Winston hasn’t earned a big new contract with the Bucs yet. If he continues to play like he did in a six-turnover game against Carolina on Sunday, there’s no way Tampa Bay can stick with him. Not even by using the franchise tag to keep him around for another year. A fresh start with another team might be the best thing for Winston. Despite his inconsistency over five years, there would be a market if Winston becomes a free agent. He probably wouldn’t command a huge salary. More importantly, he has plenty of physical talent. His problem in Tampa Bay has been that he tries to do too much with a bad team around him. Put him on a good team, and Winston could potentially become a star.
Pat Yasinskas has covered the NFL since 1993. He has worked for The Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com and writes for numerous national magazines and websites. He also has served as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
