Cam Newton's tenure in New England reportedly came to an abrupt end after one season-plus with the Patriots, shortly before the NFL's deadline for final rosters.
So what's next for the 2015 NFL MVP?
Thrown into free agency with rosters dwindling and precious few days to learn a new offense before the regular season kicks off, it would seem Newton's options could be relatively limited.
Still, there's at least one team where he would seemingly have a strong chance to compete for the starting job, and several others with whom he could latch on as a veteran backup with good odds of stepping in for an aging, injured or ineffective starter.
Houston Texans
The Texans have reached a crossroads with Deshaun Watson, and by some accounts they will likely make him inactive if they're unable to offload him by trade. Tyrod Taylor is now the starter, backed up by rookie Davis Mills. Newton would merely be a short-term answer in Houston, in the same vain as Taylor, but he could probably earn the starting job once in-house.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are in a transition phase under new head coach Arthur Smith and GM Terry Fontenot. Franchise legend Matt Ryan is still the starter, but behind him is rookie Feleipe Franks and journeyman Josh Rosen. Ryan is something of an ironman, having appeared in no fewer than 15 games since his rookie year, but he's now 36 years old and long the subject of trade rumors, so it's not impossible to see the Falcons needing to look elsewhere at some point this season.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are thin at quarterback after releasing a pair of signal-callers on Tuesday morning. And, according to veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson, the team was set to do its "due diligence" on Newton following his release. Starter Dak Prescott missed most of last season with a heel injury, then was sidelined for most of the preseason with a strained shoulder. Newton would have to accept a backup role, but it wouldn't be hard to envision him seeing action if Prescott doesn't hold up physically.
Miami Dolphins
The Fins have been linked to the Texans in trade rumors regarding Watson, and while such a move seems unlikely, they haven't flat-out denied it, either. Newton isn't nearly the player Watson is, but their apparent interest in improving at the position is potentially revealing. Tua Tagovailoa, taken fifth overall in 2020, is still a question mark, while backup Jacoby Brissett has performed well when given the chance to play. Still, if all things were equal in an open competition between Tua, Newton and Brissett, we'd see it as a virtual toss-up.
Tennessee Titans
Starting QB Ryan Tannehill missed the end of training camp after testing positive for Covid-19. He was expected to return, but even if he comes back at full strength, there's not much in the way of a decent backup on the roster, with fourth-year man Logan Woodside listed ahead of third-string journeyman Matt Barkley on the team's unofficial depth chart.
Indianapolis Colts
It was a tough preseason for Carson Wentz following his offseason acquisition from the Eagles, first missing time with a foot injury and then being placed on the Covid-restricted list after he was identified as a close contact. Rookie backup Sam Ehlinger flashed promise in preseason action before he too was lost for multiple weeks to an injury. That leaves rookie Jacob Eason, a fourth-rounder out of Washington, and journeyman backup Brett Hundley as the only available QBs on the roster at the moment.
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