Will Cam Newton be a starting NFL quarterback in 2021?

The Cam Newton experiment in New England may be coming to an end.

At the start of the 2019 NFL season, Cam Newton made his return to the Carolina Panthers following a shoulder injury that prematurely ended his 2018 campaign. After an 0-2 start, the former Heisman Trophy winner was placed on injured reserve and missed the remainder of the season, leading to his eventual release on March 24.

During this time, the New England Patriots were also going through a change at quarterback as the six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady announced that he would be leaving the team and signing with Bruce Arians and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency.

Sitting as a free agent for nearly three months, the 2015 MVP signed with the Patriots on July 8, beginning a new chapter for both the player and organization.

At the beginning of the 2020 season, Newton and the Patriots looked unstoppable. The reinvented Patriots offense ran through the Miami Dolphins with the quarterback completing 15 out of 19 passes while rushing for 75 yards and two touchdowns. A 35-30 loss to the Seahawks followed with Newton running in two more scores.

Just as he looked to have revitalized his career after a 36-20 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3, Newton tested positive for COVID-19 at the start of October. Following a Week 4 loss matchup against the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, he returned after the bye week. The Patriots went on to lose their following three games with Newton tossing five interceptions, zero passing touchdowns and losing three fumbles.

Heading into the Week 17 game against the New York Jets, who began the season losing their first 13 games but have won their last two, the Patriots have struggled throughout the month of December, losing their last three games and missing out on a chance to chase a seventh Super Bowl parade, missing the playoffs for the first time since Brady missed 15 games due to a torn ACL in 2008.

But with the focus on Newton, he signed a one-year contract with the Patriots prior to the 2020 season after idling in free agency for nearly three months. Bill Belichick and the Patriots could elect to re-sign Newton as they groom 2019 draft pick Jarrett Stidham, or another option not yet on the roster, for the future.

Possible landing spots for Cam Newton in the 2021 season

Going into the 2020 season, the Raiders appeared to be shopping for a new quarterback to take over their team and send Derek Carr packing. Carr has statistically succeeded under Jon Gruden’s offense. However, a recent groin injury against the Chargers saw Marcus Mariota enter the game and perform well with fans seeking a change.

With the recent release of first-round pick Dwayne Haskins, the Washington Football Team will be looking ahead to the 2021 season and beyond for their franchise quarterback with Alex Smith likely remaining the starter for the remainder of the season and possibly into the playoffs.

A reunion between the former Panthers quarterback and head coach Ron Rivera, a duo that spent nearly a decade together and represented the NFC during Super Bowl 50, could be just what Newton needs to recharge his career with Washington looking to continue revamping the roster.

Jimmy Garoppolo has missed 23 games the past three seasons and signed a massive five-year, $137.5 million contract in 2018. The injury-prone passer was traded from New England and led the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl LIV.

Since being the No. 1 pick in 2009, Matthew Stafford has nearly 300 touchdowns and thrown for over 40,000 yards, which is more than Joe Montana, Kurt Warner and Troy Aikman. However, Stafford’s future in the Motor City is currently unknown with trade rumors surrounding the veteran quarterback. Newton could be the offensive boost that propels Detroit to the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season.

With No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Mitchell Trubisky, set to hit the free agency this offseason, the Chicago Bears may be in the market for a quarterback to lead them to the Super Bowl. The Panthers originally tried to send Cam to Chicago in March prior to his release while there has been lots of uncertainty at the position this past season in the Windy City.

Following a loss to the eventual Super Bowl LII champions in the NFC Championship Game, the Minnesota Vikings gifted Kirk Cousins a contract worth $84 million in 2018. Missing the playoffs in his first season with the team, they made it to the Divisional Round where the 49ers ended their season. They’ve missed out on the playoffs in 2020, however.

Based on this past season, a 2021 Patriots season kicking off with Cam Newton at the helm does seem rather unlikely. But Bill Belichick has made it it’s nearly impossible to predict his next move.

There will be several teams seeking a change at the quarterback position heading into the offseason while a lot of big-name passers will be entering free agency. The former MVP could seek a change in scenery looking to recapitulate his past success or elect that he’s content calling it a career and focusing on whatever venture is next.