Dallas Cowboys: Cam Newton could be a valuable backup QB

Cam Newton was released by the New England Patriots on Tuesday and the Dallas Cowboys should be one of the teams looking to add him to the roster

Every year in the NFL, there are some unexpected names that hit the open market when teams cut their roster down to 53 players. Ahead of the 2021 season, the biggest name to surprisingly become available is former NFL MVP Cam Newton who was released by the New England Patriots on Tuesday.

New England has elected to go with first-round pick Mac Jones, who played well in the preseason, and that left Newton on the outside looking in. The Patriots apparently also believed either Jarrett Stidham or Bryan Hoyer would be better as the backup to Jones.

While it’s true that Newton seemed like an odd fit in the Josh McDaniels offense — and the remaining players were closer to what McDaniels looks for — it still feels like a bold move since Newton is a player who can still make good things happen on the football field.

That’s why there won’t be a shortage of suitors for his services, even if it’s in a backup role. And one team that absolutely needs to kick the tires is the Dallas Cowboys.

The Dallas Cowboys have a void at backup quarterback that Cam Newton would fill beautifully.

Dallas enters the 2021 season with some uncertainty behind their starter, Dak Prescott. Neither Garrett Gilbert nor Ben DiNucci did enough to secure the job, thus paving the way for Cooper Rush to take the job after the former two players were cut on Tuesday. But that still doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence.

There’s also a lot of incentive for the Cowboys to get this position right. Prescott missed 11 games last season due to a broken ankle and they were rough, to say the least, without him. On top of his ankle surgery recovery, Dak also has a shoulder injury that has caused concerns in Big D.

Adding Newton would give them a great insurance policy, and he would be able to run a very similar offense to the one Prescott operates — albeit, one that does focus on the quarterback using his legs a bit more to help the run game.

Newton isn’t likely to find a starting role this season but Dallas could make sense for him given the likelihood that Prescott could have recurring issues with his shoulder this season. If he does get into the game, he can show off his talent while auditioning for another shot in 2022. This feels like it could be a win for both sides, giving them both what they need.