Should the Browns sign Cam Newton?
The Cleveland Browns hope third-year pro and 2018 first overall draft pick Baker Mayfield will put a sophomore slump behind him in a new-look offense this fall.
Meanwhile, one-time NFL Most Valuable Player and former Carolina Panthers starting quarterback Cam Newton remains unsigned. He was, however, recently seen throwing passes to superstar Cleveland wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. during a workout.
Should the Browns explore taking a flier on Newton?
Former player and current ESPN analyst Marcus Spears can answer in two words: "No question."
Spears elaborated while speaking on ESPN's "Get Up" on Wednesday morning:
"Look, I know we get enamored with the fact that (Newton is) working out with OBJ, but if you look at it, I've been on this train about Baker not being an elite quarterback in this league. I just didn't see it. I still don't know if he can reach that level. I think he can be formidable. I think he can help teams have good seasons, but to think that he's going to be a guy who's going to be championship-level, I just don't see it. And maybe Baker proves me wrong."
Spears continued:
"Cam Newton is still good. Cam Newton missed football because of injury. Cam Newton didn't miss football because he couldn't play the quarterback spot anymore. And when you look at all this talent (on Cleveland's roster), the pressure that will be off Cam Newton having to run, use his legs and create plays, will be different than any situation he's ever been in. And he's had some good teams in Carolina. But when you line up the personnel for Cam Newton that Cleveland will have, he will take less hits. He will be able to turn around and hand it off to (Nick) Chubb and Kareem Hunt. He will have receivers that will get open on a consistent basis. I think this is a layup to sign Cam Newton to see where he can take you if Baker Mayfield doesn't turn out."
As Spears referenced, Cleveland possesses a wide assortment of weapons for Mayfield, Newton or any other signal-caller. Along with a backfield featuring Chubb and Hunt, both Beckham and Jarvis Landry are set to be in the lineup and fully recovered from injuries. Free-agency acquisition Austin Hooper joins David Njoku at tight end as well.
Newton turned only 31 years old in May, but his injury history could scare any team from paying him substantial money, let alone awarding him with a "prove it" contract. He required shoulder surgery after the 2018 campaign and played in only two games last year before a Lisfranc fracture sidelined him through the remainder of his Carolina tenure.
The Panthers released Newton in March after no team traded for him.
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