NFL Free Agency 2020: 5 Best landing spots for Marcus Mariota
4. Carolina Panthers
While I believe Cam Newton will stay with the Carolina Panthers and remain the starter for the 2020 season, he hasn’t shown an ability to stay on the field. Newton missed 14 games last year and has only played one full season in the past four years.
Newton is an incredible athlete and should be a starter in the NFL, but his injury history should make any team concerned enough to buy an insurance policy. Marcus Mariota could be the perfect contingency plan for Newton.
While Mariota doesn’t have Newton’s size or physicality, he possesses a similar level of mobility that could help him transition smoothly into the Panthers offense. With former LSU coach Joe Brady in the fold as offensive coordinator, the Panthers scheme would allow for Mariota to make quick, easy throws and get the ball to Christian McCaffery, D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel in space.
Brady was well-known at LSU for getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers and Mariota has the short-field accuracy to allow Carolina’s weapons to create yards after the catch. Like Newton, Mariota can also execute designed runs and read options with great success. The former Titan could run this offense better than most backups on the market and should be a priority target for the Panthers once free agency opens.
After watching Kyle Allen and Will Grier collapse towards the end of the season, the Panthers need a reliable backup to Newton who could keep the offense afloat in his absence. Mariota has shown he could lead his team to a winning record as long as he has a solid supporting cast. With the Panthers only having $32 million in cap space and other needs to fill along the roster, Mariota could be an affordable option to add to the quarterback room.