Teams “Highly Interested” In Cam Newton But Panthers Unlikely To Trade Him

According to Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman, other teams are “highly interested” in trading for Panthers QB Cam Newton ahead of next week’s deadline. 

However, Freeman adds the Panthers are unlikely to trade their former MVP quarterback and his contract isn’t trade-friendly this season.

The Athletic’s Joe Person writes that if the Panthers were to consider trading Newton at all, it wouldn’t be until this offseason. 

Newton remains out for this week and potentially more as he continues to work his way back from a Lisfranc injury. The Panthers have not discussed yet if Newton will remain the starter when he returns. 

Newton’s replacement, Kyle Allen has led the team to four straight wins since taking over for Newton and is 5-0 as a starter, including last season, which makes this a particularly interesting decision for Carolina.

Carolina would gain $19.1 million in cap space with a $2 million dead money hit by trading Newton this offseason, per Over the Cap.

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 has 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 regarding Newton as the news is available.