Ian Rapoport reports the Panthers won’t give away Panthers QB Cam Newton but many around the NFL expect them to deal the former MVP if they get a deal that makes it worth their while.
According to Rapoport, Carolina will be looking for a “significant return” for Newton.
Rapoport cites the Vikings trading a first-round pick for Sam Bradford, the Bills trading Tyrod Taylor for a third-round pick and the Chiefs dealing Alex Smith for a third-round pick and starting CB Kendall Fuller as potentially providing the framework for an eventual Newton deal.
According to Jason La Canfora, Newton is scheduled to undergo surgery next week on his Lisfranc injury, but the injury won’t affect Carolina’s ability to trade the quarterback if they choose.
La Canfora adds Newton is expected to be cleared for offseason activities in March, meaning he’ll be healthy for whichever team he suits up for.
Newton’s future with the team is up in the air after two major injuries the past two seasons as he enters the last year of his contract in 2020. La Canfora says Panthers owner David Tepper has always been “lukewarm at best” about giving Newton an extension and could look to further put his stamp on the team by sending Newton out the door to follow HC Ron Rivera.
The Panthers have options with the way QB Kyle Allen has played this year and the presence of third-round rookie QB Will Grier, though La Canfora says Grier isn’t expected to play in 2019.
Newton, 30, is a former first-round pick of the Panthers back in 2011. He is entering the fifth year of his six-year, $118.47 million contract that includes $60 million guaranteed and stands to make base salaries of $16.2 million and $18.6 million over the final two years of the agreement.
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 has also rushed five times for -2 yards.
We’ll have more on Newton as the news is available.
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