Patriots Sign QB Cam Newton, Setting the Stage For an Interesting Camp

Ian Logue

3 years ago at 8:26 pm ET

Greg M. Cooper - USA TODAY Sports

Heading into training camp, all signs seemed to point to second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham as the potential starter for the Patriots heading into 2020.

Hold that thought.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Patriots surprised everyone by signing free-agent quarterback Cam Newton on Sunday night, adding the veteran quarterback into the mix. Newton’s addition doesn’t necessarily guarantee anything, but it will certainly add quite a bit to the QB competition in the months ahead.

Former NFL MVP Cam Newton has reached agreement on a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the New England Patriots, league sources tell @mortreport and me.

Newton now will step into the mix to try to help replace former Patriots’ QB Tom Brady.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 28, 2020

Former Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich said recently that he strongly believed Bill Belichick would favor going into the season with a veteran, saying at the time that he believed Brian Hoyer would potentially start the year for the team. It appears that he may have been on to something as they opted to bring another veteran in someone like Newton, which now seems to indicate that he may indeed prefer to go that route.

Another possibility could be that it may end up instead as another challenge for Hoyer, who prior to this signing appeared to be fairly safe with Stidham. Belichick may instead feel as though he’d prefer to have a more seasoned veteran in place should he not feel confident starting 2020 with Stidham. Newton would certainly make them competitive and it could leave Hoyer as potentially the odd man out.

One other point to consider could be the complications potentially from the coronavirus, which may instead see the team go into the year with three QBs in case one of them falls ill and is out for any extended period of time.

Either way, it’s definitely safe to say things have certainly changed after this transaction.

Ironically enough, the 31-year old Newton suffered a foot injury during last year’s preseason game against the Patriots after Kyle Van Noy took him down for a sack in a 10-3 win over the Panthers last August. He initially opted to forego surgery in hopes of being able to contribute but played in just two games before eventually being placed on injured reserve. Prior to now, Newton hadn’t seen much interest in free agency, although his name had come up previously as a potential free agent candidate.

New England now heads into training camp with Newton, Stidham and Hoyer to potentially start the 2020 Patriots season.