The Good

Although raw, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson showed in college he can be an unstoppable force. The 6’4″ Richardson is built like Cam Newton but is more explosive. There were questions on how long it would take Richardson to adjust to the NFL after just 13 starts for the Gators. The Colts have seen enough to believe he is ready now and named him the starter going forward. I like the aggressive move as Richardson needs all the reps and new head coach Shane Steichen will devise a gameplan for him to succeed.

Speaking of Steichen, I was a big fan of this hire for Indianapolis. Steichen elevated Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to one of the most dangerous weapons in the league. He used the RPO offense to perfection to keep opposing defenses off balance. This formula propelled the Eagles all the way to the Super Bowl before they eventually lost to the Chiefs. Expect Steichen to once again work his magic on Richardson and make him a successful dual-threat quarterback.

The Bad

All summer long the running back position has dominated the headlines. There is a disconnect between how much running backs think they’re worth versus how valuable the league sees them. Regardless of your stance, one can’t argue the value of Jonathan Taylor. In 2021, Taylor was the league leader in scrimmage yards (2171) and total touchdowns (20). While injuries cut his 2022 season to just 11 games he was still able to rack up over 1,000 all purpose yards.

Despite all that the Colts are unwilling to pay him and he has since requested a trade. This is not what the Colts need as they are trying to change the culture and start a new era. If they do trade Taylor it will only hurt the development of Richardson going forward.

The Prediction

There will be ups and downs this season for the Colts as they look to develop their young quarterback. Richardson will no doubt make highlight reel plays but also plenty of mistakes. It’s important for the Colts staff to be patient as he develops and they will reap the rewards in the future.

2023 Record: 7-10 (3rd in the Division)

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BACKGROUND

Anthony Richardson is a QB prospect out of Gainesville, Florida. He played for Eastside where he threw for 37 TDs and ran for 41 TDs. Rivals listed him as a four-star prospect and the sixth-best QB in his class. He committed to play for the University of Florida Gators.

COLLEGE CAREER

Anthony Richardson had a slow start to his career. He redshirted as a freshman and played in only a couple of games. As a redshirt freshman, he and Emory Jones battled it out for the starting QB spot. Emory, however, won it but Richardson played a few more games and started getting more reps.

2022-2023 COLLEGE CAREER

In his 3rd year, he and Emory battled it out again for the starting QB slot. Richardson had fully recovered from a knee procedure. Anthony won the spot and Emory decided to transfer out to Arizona State. As the starting QB for Florida, he was electrifying, showcasing his arm strength and running ability. He started his season with a big-time win over number 7 Utah where he ran for 106 yards and three TDs. His best game of the year came against number 11 Tennessee. He threw for 453 yards and two TDs and ran for 62 yards and two TDs.

STRENGTHS: Elite Physical Specimen

What makes him special is his physical tools which cannot be taught. Standing 6’4″ and 238 lbs, he’s one of the biggest people on the field. He has speed that will wow in the 40 yard dash and can throw a football 75 yards. It helps that the QB might be the fastest player on the field. A lot of Josh Allen can be seen in the pre-draft workout process.

WEAKNESSES: Limited Experience

Anthony Richardson only started one season at Florida. His performance showed areas where he can improve. First, the decision-making needs to improve. There were instances when he held the ball for too long or doesn’t figure out the information pre-snap. Even though he is electrifying, his form when throwing the ball can be inconsistent. He will need time to develop.

PLAYER COMPARISON: Cam Newton

TEAMS WHO COULD DRAFT HIM

Anthony Richardson is the draft’s most exciting player. After being mostly the fourth QB taken, a mock draft by CBS had him picked first by the Indianapolis Colts. This changed even in the gambling sites as his odds have drastically improved. A lot will depend on the pro day and draft combine where he can showcase his skills. Among the QBs, he has the biggest potential on the run. But, he still needs time to develop to be a more pro-QB in the NFL.

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By: Jake Rajala

It may seem like the seven trumpets are going off in Dallas after it was announced that Dak Prescott will miss 6-8 weeks. However, the Boys still have a plethora of talent on their roster & they could surely sneak into the playoffs with the right signal-caller. With that said, I’m going to untwine seven QBs that may be a logical fit for Dallas.

• Teddy Bridgewater

I would honestly love to see Teddy “two gloves” in a Cowboys uniform. The signal-caller that is coming off a 7-7 record last season can take care of the football and utilize the crisp route-running ability of Ceedee Lamb and Michael Gallup. I also don’t foresee the Phins retaining Bridgewater as a QB2 long-term, so it may be wise for Mike McDaniel to ship him out for a draft pick soon.

• Andy Dalton

The Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton, also known as the “Red Rifle”, still has the arm talent and a slice of the fountain of youth at 34 years old. Most importantly, Dalton played nine games with the reigning NFC East Champions in 2020. It would make a ton of sense for the Boys to bring him back if New Orleans was open to the offer.

• Cam Newton

The Panthers legend, Cam Newton, lost a chunk of his ability that led him to win MVP in 2016. Nonetheless, he could still be a threat with his rushing ability. I would want to see the Panthers ink Newton as 1B at QB. The NFL world witnessed Taysom Hill run angry for 81 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. It may be wise for the Boys to roll with a pure passing QB at 1A and sprinkle in Newton at 1B at QB.

• Gardner Minshew

Perhaps the Boys are desperate enough to get the Philadelphia Eagles to cough up the magic man, Gardner Minshew, in 2022. Minshew may be the most underrated backup QB in the league and it’s a shame that he hasn’t had a shot at a starting gig after many flashes of greatness in Jacksonville.

• Drew Lock

Geno Smith is pegged as the starting QB and the Hawks are likely a bit more interested in moving on from the Drew Lock experiment. He still has physical gifts, but he hasn’t quite found the right fit. Lamb and Gallup could make a lot of plays with the clean version of Lock.

• Sam Darnold

The former USC mythical QB, Sam Darnold, is the ultimate wildcard to land with the Boys in my opinion. Darnold has been in numerous agonizing situations in Adam Gase land & surrounded by an injured Christian McCaffrey. Yet, he has made impressive throws and taken care of the football at key times. He may be the best value pick-up for the Boys — assuming the Panthers don’t have a modest price tag on him.

• Tyrod Taylor

The electric Tyrod Taylor would be a safe bet for the Boys. Taylor, aka the 2015 Pro Bowler and near-starting QB for the Chargers (until a sad injury occurred to him from the medical staff) is still looking for his last break. The issue is: will the Giants be open to trading him to the Boys?

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By: Brock Wells

Trey Lance is going to be the Week One 2022 starter at quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. This is something that has been expected for some time, even by many last season when the 49ers first drafted him out of North Dakota State University with the third pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. The two-time FCS champion led the Bison to an undefeated season in 2019, a season in which he threw for zero interceptions.

That said, Lance also played in just one game in the following 2020 season. For a team to select a player third overall who played in just one game in their final college season can be seen as rather bizarre. But some still point to his 2019 season, in which he compiled 42 total touchdowns (28 passing, 14 rushing) and 3,886 total yards (2,786 passing, 1,100 rushing) as evidence that he was worth such a high pick despite the lack of play in ’20.

It’s rare that a quarterback who played their college ball in the FCS gets the kind of attention Lance does, especially one that played just one game in their final season. An awful lot of praise has been given to a player who hasn’t played a lot of football. Nevertheless, when he has played, he’s generally been nothing short of excellent. He’s got the arm and the size to make himself an asset as a dual-threat quarterback in the modern NFL.

Lance is capable of the kind of rushing attack similar to that which has been seen through the likes of Cam Newton. At 6’4”, 224 pounds, Lance can be difficult to bring down, especially if he’s able to get into the open field. In terms of accuracy, too, he stacks up to Newton. Having started in just two games last season, there’s little to take away from his accuracy thus far in the NFL. But the NCAA stats of Lance and Newton paint a picture.

Career completion percentage (NCAA):

• Lance: 65.4%
• Newton: 65.4%

Best season:

• Lance: 2,786 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 0 interceptions / 1,100 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns (2019)
• Newton: 2,854 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, 7 interceptions / 1,473 rushing yards, 20 touchdowns / 42 receiving yards, 1 touchdown (2010)

Because Lance has started so few games recently (two in 2021, one in 2020), it’s difficult to gauge just where his potential in the NFL is currently at. Of course, he’ll be leading a 49ers team in 2022 that carries high expectations with it. If he’s overrated at this point, it’s on account of the premature reactions many have towards him. It simply isn’t responsible at this point to lavish him with the praise he hasn’t been given the opportunity to earn. In the games Lance started in ’21, he had the tendency to take a lot of unnecessary contact. He’ll want to turn that around as well.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Carolina Panthers have been lobbying for a new, talented quarterback to join their squad this offseason. Matt Rhule clearly wasn’t able to acquire Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson. I expect CAR to not draft a QB early in the 2022 NFL draft. Nonetheless, they can still find a diamond in the rough in the free-agent QB pool.

Matter of fact, I believe there is one QB that would be a perfect fit for the Panthers: Colin Kaepernick.

Kap would essentially be an upgrade over Cam Newton in my mind. They both hold a similar skillset, but Kap is more explosive and he arguably has better arm talent right now. In 2016 (his last season in the league), he registered 16 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and averaged 6.8 yards per attempt. He also showed his arm strength and arm ability on the run quite well at the Big House recently.

Meanwhile, Cam Newton threw 4 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and unveiled a career-low 5.4 YPC last season. Newton might have familiarity and respect amid Panthers nation, but I believe Kap can really be more productive for the Panthers in 2022.

Kap is 34 years old, but he has fresh legs and he has kept in shape. Andy Dalton is 34 years old and he just signed a contract with the Saints. Furthermore, Matt Ryan is 36 years old and he could likely play five more seasons with the Colts. The dual-threat QB Michael Vick was a New York Jets at age 34, as well. I don’t believe that Kap is washed up right now and he could be a threat in the NFL for a couple more seasons. Interestingly, Kap can be dangerous as a rotational QB with his speed, too. If Sam Darnold is the best starting option in Week 1, Rhule can still find ways to get Kap (4.53 40 yard dash at the NFL combine) involved.

I also believe that Kap is the best free-agent QB option for the Panthers. Here is a closer look at the other free agent signal-callers:

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Blaine Gabbert

Geno Smith

A.J. McCarron

If the Panthers are seeking a versatile, cheaper free agent QB with the highest ceiling, they should ink Kap and give him the keys at QB1 or make sure he’s a vital piece of their puzzle as QB2.

The post Why the Panthers should really sign Colin Kaepernick appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Carolina Panthers lost their star pass rusher, Haason Reddick, in free agency. Nonetheless, the Panthers still exhibit young, hungry defensive lineman. The Panthers may not target edge rush help, but they could really benefit from more talent at many other positions on their roster. With that said, here are a few interesting free agents that would be logical fits for the Panthers squad.

• Cam Newton

I expect the Panthers to bring in a veteran QB and not draft a QB early in the 2022 NFL draft. Per, Yahoo Sports, the Panthers are open to bringing back Newton. I don’t believe Newton will return to being a Pro Bowl QB, but the 32-year-old QB can be a potential starting QB for a few more seasons in the NFL.

• Albert Wilson

It would be wise for the Panthers to ink an underrated WR3 for competition. Albert Wilson can be a 300+ yard WR and the new “Curtis Samuel” with excellent matchups for CAR. He is also 29 years old, so he’s not quite at the A.J. Green/Julio Jones stage of his career.

• Janoris Jenkins

The Panthers recently brought back CB Donte Jackson, but they could use more CB talent in the gruesome NFC South. Jackrabbit has 4 picks in the past two seasons and he would be an excellent value signing for the Panthers. He would be pivotal against the Bucs and Saints potent wide receivers.

• Kyle Rudolph

The Panthers team that struggled in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes needs to get creative for playmaking ability. Darnold could benefit from the cheap, talented TE Kyle Rudolph, who can be an excellent big body threat for the Panthers future starting QB. Rudolph is 32 years old and he can be a quality TE2 in 2022 and beyond.

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The New York Jets were desperate for quarterback help in 2021, as they traded for former Jets QB Joe Flacco. Recently, the Jets brought back Joe Cool to the Big Apple. The Jets second-year head coach Robert Saleh carries Zach Wilson, Flacco, and Mike White on the roster at this moment.

I don’t expect the Jets to draft a QB in the 2022 NFL Draft, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they add a more talented veteran QB this offseason. I believe Flacco was a cheap, familiar competition, but I’d be surprised if they don’t consider adding a QB that can really push Wilson for the Week 1 starting gig. With that said, here are a few free agent-signal callers that the Jets could ink this offseason.

• A.J. McCarron

A.J. McCarron provides immediate starting ability and potential at 31 years old. McCarron had a 2-1 record as a rookie starter in 2015, but he hasn’t quite had another chance to prove himself as an NFL starter. He may not be the next Matthew Stafford if he switches teams, but he could be a modest late bloomer like Taysom Hill in a new, comfortable situation.

• Andy Dalton

The red rifle is carefully looking for a different home in 2022. Dalton hasn’t been a Pro Bowl QB since the Jurassic period, but he does have great experience and arm talent at 34 years old. To be fair, he has been stuck in Alcatraz, also known as Matt Nagy’s paradise. He might be highly motivated to bounce back in a location that could offer him the keys to a starting QB gig. If he doesn’t turn around his career, he will be pinned as Ryan Fitzpatrick 2.0.

• Cam Newton

The former Panthers great QB Cam Newton has lost his spark, but he could be an interesting addition to the Jets offense. He could have special packages in the Jets offense, while potentially being an upgrade as a QB2 over Flacco. Newton and the Big Apple would be an interesting combination, as well.

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Over the years, the NFL scouting community, professionals, media, and fans have had an issue that not enough people talk about: the branding rod of racial stereotypes at the quarterback position.

Phrases that almost all of us have been guilty of using, that we casually throw onto, more often than not, black quarterbacks that don’t often get shared with their white quarterback counterparts. Phrases like “low football IQ”, “surprising intelligence”, “processing issues”, etc. are pervasive. This is so often lazily thrown onto black quarterbacks to explain away why a player may have struggled in some areas but is almost never thrown onto a white quarterback draft prospect.

The same hypothetical intellectual mountain that is placed in front of black quarterback prospects that is made to be a dirt hill for the same white prospects. You can see some examples of this in this current draft; articles came out that teams were “Surprised about Malik Willis’ intelligence”, which is a tone-deaf statement, given that to get to this position in the draft process at the most complicated position in sport, a person’s intelligence should be presumed to be pretty high. Why is it that these statements only seem to stick to black athletic quarterbacks?

Asserting this verbiage onto a black QB’s intelligence has become such an exponentially lazy trope that many writers don’t even notice when they include it in their work.

This isn’t the only issue that arises with these black prospects, and one does not have to dig deep to find examples of poor ethics when framing these young athletes. One only needs to look back to Justin Fields. Media writers and twitter scouts were so eager to find a reason to explain why Justin was falling on draft boards that they jumped to terrible conclusions and spread those conclusions like wildfire. There were multiple media reports that Justin Fields “struggles processing” and that was leading to a drop in draft stock. This, notably, was not parroted beyond the media, as scouts knew that was not true. Combined with larger media that put out the ridiculous notion that Fields had a terrible “work ethic” and was “a last-guy-in, first-guy-out type of quarterback” with concerns over whether he had the “desire to be a great quarterback” but rather “a desire to be a big-time athlete”.

There were no tangible reasons to reach these conclusions beyond a lack of understanding of a player’s perceived value in the draft. It was simply reaching for reasoning to try and explain away preconceptions on a player. There was no obvious behind the idea that Fields lacked motivation or drive. In sharp contrast, he had just played a game in which he took pain-killing injections to be able to return to the field after a shot to the ribs.

However, this is far from a recent problem with Justin Fields and Malik Willis alone. It happens every year. Cam Newton faced scrutiny for a “fake smile” and “wanting to be an icon” as the media looked to murder his credibility before he stepped foot on an NFL field. Black quarterbacks face unfair evaluation in the media and online, one can only hope that these notions are not perpetuated within the NFL scouting rooms.

Nor is this the only underlying racist verbiage that is aimed at these QBs. It comes with their player comparisons and projections as well. When a black QB has a high ceiling, who are they almost unanimously compared to? JaMarcus Russell. It is used as a sign. Commentators discuss how Russell lacked motivation and was unintelligent, and how it could be a massive disaster should the player bottom out like Russell.

Russell being the low floor scapegoat for black quarterbacks is more complicated than the media typically portrays, however, as no one really digs into why he really failed. Did he have issues with motivation? That was made fairly clear, but the underlying reasons for that are enormously complex and not a blanket for ultra-talented black quarterbacks. Russell dealt with familial loss, addiction, and so much more that was the ultimate cockail for failure for a young quarterback regardless of race.

Why is it that white quarterbacks with rocket arms and immense talent are never compared to Russell? It is almost never brought up that they have a floor that could bottom out due to “work ethic” or “processing issues”. Instead, it’s typically referred to as “lack of ability to transition” to the NFL. Who are white QBs compared to when discussing bust potential? Usually the ultimate bust reference for them is Ryan Leaf. Commentators take the time to examine why Leaf struggled, why he busted, and the issues he dealt with in his personal life. This is not something JaMarcus Russell is frequently afforded in the same conversation.

These words and phrases have consequences beyond the audience’s perception of a player. This manner of speech trickles down into fan forums, family living rooms, and almost certainly into youth football. How do these words affect young black players who want to play quarterback? How do they perceive these words? How does it affect their perception of their dreams and what they want to develop into?

These young men idolize players like Cam Newton and assassinating their character only hurts that perception. Does it bleed into a coach’s opinion at a youth level? Does he perceive that a young black player who wants to play QB will have “trouble processing” information that a young white player won’t? I know it has certainly happened in the past, and we can only hope it doesn’t happen now, but it isn’t beyond reasoning that it likely does, especially with the way these young players are talked about. It doesn’t seem like a huge leap in logic to conclude that those who consume slightly racist undertone media begin to adopt those same racist type stereotypes.

As a community, we in the media need to work together to eliminate this subtle, underlying racism in our wording and evaluation of these young black quarterbacks. We need to recognize who consumes the material, and how perceptions are changed by the outlets they trust. The words we use matter, and the routine we fall into when diagnosing these quarterbacks have a far-reaching impact beyond the NFL.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has been one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks over the past decade. The energetic and workhorse QB was the 2011 Offensive Rookie of The Year, 2015 MVP, and he’s made three Pro Bowls in his career. Newton has collected a 75-68-1 record in his career, 194 passing touchdowns, and 5,628 rushing yards in his NFL tenure.

Newton is well regarded as arguably the most unique quarterback and dynamic football player of all time. Although, Newton hasn’t tasted top-end success over the past few seasons. Since 2017, Newton hasn’t registered a winning season and he hasn’t been a quality QB in each of the past few seasons.

The former Panthers QB will be remembered as a special QB, but will he go down as a legendary, future Hall of Fame QB? I believe Newton would not be a future HOF QB if he retired today.

Let’s take a look at QBs that played beyond the year 2000 and earned a spot in the Hall of Fame. Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, and Kurt Warner are the recent prolific signal-callers that have made it into the Hall of Fame. It’s safe to say that Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers will go into Canton, as well. If Newton was compared to these QBs, it would not look well for him.

Brees is Top-2 in passing yards and passing touchdowns of all time, while also holding a Super Bowl Ring. Peyton Manning is Top 3 in passing touchdowns and passing yards all-time, plus he has two Super Bowl wins. Aaron Rodgers has four MVP awards and he won Super Bowl XLV over the Steelers. Kurt Warner has many postseason passing records, a stunning ride with the Rams “greatest show on turf” offense, and he won a Super Bowl. Tom Brady holds the records for most passing yards and passing touchdowns of all time, plus he has won seven Super Bowl rings. It’s clear that TB12 wasn’t just magical in his playing career, but he’s arguably the greatest athlete of all time.

I believe that the legacy of the QBs mentioned above carries one QB that could have a similar outcome that holds near success as Newton. Warner has been a legendary QB with the Rams, but he only carries one Super Bowl ring. The sight of Warner making into Canton should give Newton confidence. If Newton wins his first Super Bowl, I believe Warner and Newton would carry very similar success in their respected careers.

Nonetheless, I don’t expect Newton to have a dominant 18-week season and then propel his squad to a Super Bowl victory. Yet, if Newton did manage to win another Super Bowl in a unique way, I believe he should eventually be inducted into Canton.

Newton doesn’t have the same arm strength or even the same ability to handle a load frequently as a rushing threat from the starting QB position. Still, I’d love to see him sign as a backup QB on a talented team. If the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, or Miami Dolphins sign him, he would have a realistic chance at starting for the potential playoff squads in the near future.

The Superman QB might have fallen off a cliff in the past couple of years, but he has the makeup to come back stronger in the league. He has the Heisman drive, skillset that could attract many teams, and he’s only 32 years old (a year younger than Russell Wilson).

The NFL world witnessed Nick Foles replace Carson Wentz late in the 2017-2018 season and then lead his team to a Super Bowl win over Tom Brady. I believe the 49ers, who were featured in the NFC Championship with Jimmy G, would be a potential fit for Newton in 2022. The 49ers have high expectations for Trey Lance, but the playoff contender can’t just roll out the carpet for him to start in Week 1. Kyle Shanahan will surely bring in a veteran QB, who holds a similar skillset to the second-year Lance, to compete with the former North Dakota State product this offseason.

The Saints had significant injury issues with Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill last season. If the Saints didn’t have Trevor Sieman play for five games, I believe the Saints would have made the playoffs last season. Hill and Newton also have a very similar style of play, so it would make sense if the Saints looked at Newton in a desperate scenario. If Newton has the keys to the Saints or 49ers talented supporting cast in the playoffs, he can seek his elusive Super Bowl ring, and look to punch his ticket to Canton.

The post Is Cam Newton a future Hall of Famer? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Carolina Panthers have a big question mark at the quarterback position in 2022. The slightly more anxious Matt Rhule and the Panthers just re-signed XFL standout P.J. Walker on Monday. It’s also been reported by the New York Post that Sam Darnold will be in a Panthers uniform next season. 

It seems that the Panthers want to give Darnold a year of growth and allow him to compete with a likely newcomer at the QB position. The question unequivocally is: what will happen at the Panthers QB position? Well, here are a few potential names that would make sense to land in CAR. 

1. Jameis Winston 

This number 1 option might be strange, but it would make a lot of sense. There’s so much buzz surrounding “Russell Wilson landing in NOLA”, but not enough traction revolving around Jameis Winston’s next landing spot. If Wilson takes his talents to the Big Easy, there is a 0% Winston remains in New Orleans. I’d love to see the Panthers sign Winston vs drafting a QB round one in the 2022 draft. The Panthers have a shorter window to pursue the Lombardi trophy off the legs of Christian McCaffrey. They also have the WRs to move the chains at ease. They can insert a mega arm, 27-year-old QB in Winston this offseason. 

It would be a poetic move for Winston to sign with his third NFC South team. At least Winston could grow with talent on offense and the talented, youthful defense (particularly on the front seven). 

2. Sam Howell

Again … I wouldn’t want to see the Panthers notch a QB in round one. They can find a similar value QB with Sam Howell in round two, not to mention that they still carry a QB project in Darnold. Howell would be a beautiful pickup by the Panthers. Howell may have more gasoline on his arm than Darnold and he even he is a few years younger than Darnold. He could utilize deep threat, Robby Anderson, quite well for Rhule. 

Howell had 24 passing touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 3,056 passing yards, and a 76.1 passer rating in 2021. It was below his 2020 season performance truly. Howell recorded 30 touchdowns in 2020 and ousted a 179.1 passer rating. Howell even registered 38 passing touchdowns as a freshman.

Howell really has the arm talent to put up big numbers with Anderson and Moore if he can master the playbook. If he can’t, he could sit and let the Panthers build the roster for a year then he could potentially take the reigns in a soon-to-be Brady-less NFC South. QBs like Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston could also be out of the division in 2022 or 2023, as well.

3. Cam Newton

This option might appear ludicrous for 75% of Panthers nation, but Cam does have a knack to come back from the dead. I also agree that there is less than 10% of Newton being prepped as the QB1 at the start of the training camp. Yet, Darnold routinely faces the injury bug. He’s missed four games in each of the past two seasons. If another injury occurs to Darnold in preseason action and they really need a veteran QB instead of a rookie, it would be ideal that Cam is inserted or gets a phone call. 

There isn’t a single soul that can clock the book on Newton’s work ethic. If he stays in shape and shows that he still has a grasp on the Panthers offense, he can really be a serviceable QB for the familiar offense.

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