While the Patriots were the only team to extend QB Cam Newton a contract offer, the Cleveland Browns inquired with Newton at one point, per Adam Schefter.
Schefter says the conversation between Newton and the Browns was brief and did not go very far, certainly not to the point of an offer.
In addition to having former No. 1 overall pick QB Baker Mayfield on the roster, the Browns also invested significantly in backup QB Case Keenum during free agency this year, which would have made Newton a curious fit.
Newton ended up signing a one-year deal with New England yesterday, where he should be favored to win the competition against incumbent QB Jarrett Stidham if he’s healthy.
Newton had been on the market for several months with no reported interest. This may have been due in part to the fact that teams were unable to bring free agents in for medical evaluations and Newton is coming off of season-ending shoulder and foot injuries the past two years that each required surgery.
Newton, 31, is a former first-round pick of the Panthers back in 2011. He was entering the fifth year of his six-year, $118.47 million contract that includes $60 million guaranteed and set to make base salaries of $16.2 million and $18.6 million over the final two years of the agreement when the Panthers cut him this offseason.
In 2019, Newton appeared in two games for the Panthers, completing 50 out of 89 passes for 572 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed five times for -2 yards.
We had Newton listed in our Top-100 2020 Free Agents list.
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