Auburn legend ‘could be what Jets need’ after Aaron Rodgers injury
Auburn football legend Cam Newton is someone who the New York Jets may not covet, but who could be what the Jets need in the aftermath of Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles injury, according to The Big Lead’s Liam McKeone — who believes Gang Green needs merely an “okay” offense with such a vaunted defense, and sees Newton as being capable of delivering them that.
“Newton is still an active player, much to your surprise I am sure, and is a free agent right now pretty much because he will not be a backup quarterback,” McKeone prefaced before saying, “The 34-year-old still believes he is a starting-caliber player. And while that’s probably not true he could be what the Jets need. Newton would bring his patented swagger to a team in need of a confidence boost and his ability to run gives the Jets’ offense a relatively steady floor in comparison to some of these other options. He did look really, really bad throwing the ball the last time we saw him on the field, but the Jets would be wise to kick the tires. They don’t need an explosive offense. They just need an okay one. And Newton might be able to provide that.”
Newton completed under 55% of his passes during the 2021 season, his last active campaign, while throwing four touchdowns and five interceptions during a brief comeback with the franchise that drafted him, the Carolina Panthers. It should be noted that he did add five rushing touchdowns on five rushing yards per attempt, though.
NFL executive: Auburn football legend Cam Newton ‘worth looking into’ for Jets
The opinion that Newton is an option under center for a Jets team that’d otherwise be solely reliant on Zach Wilson is one shared by an unnamed executive who spoke with NFL Analysis Network; who believes Newton is “well worth” looking into on the market.
“There are some options out there in free agency that the Jets could consider,” the executive prefaced before saying, “One name that hasn’t been mentioned much is Cam Newton. I think he’s well worth looking into for New York.”
Joe Flacco, Carson Wentz, and Jameis Winston, among others, all have better odds than Newton and would more likely be signed by New York. But the idea of one more Camback, this time in the Big Apple, is beyond intriguing.