MIAMI, FLORIDA – JANUARY 31: (L-R) SiriusXM host Pat Kirwan, NFL quarterback Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers and SiriusXM host Jim Miller speak onstage during day 3 of SiriusXM at Super Bowl LIV on January 31, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM )
The Chicago Bears were rumored to be interested in Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who was released on Tuesday.
Chicago Bears‘ rumored quarterback target Cam Newton was released by the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday.
After the Panthers signed free agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater when the NFL opened their calendar year last Wednesday, it was rather clear that Newton’s days in Carolina were numbered.
Reports had the Bears in trade discussions with Panthers in an attempt to bring the former league-MVP to Chicago. Even though there was wide expectation that the Panthers were going to release Newton, the thought was the the Bears wanted to get a jump on the market and acquire the veteran quarterback before he hit the free agent market.
The story that went on to be unfolded was that the Bears would trade their compensatory fourth round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars for quarterback Nick Foles. As Bears’ fans proceeded to ponder whether Foles was an upgrade over incumbent starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, the Panthers were stuck with Newton due to a lack of interested trade partners.
With Newton’s release on Tuesday, rumors re-surfaced of the Bears’ interest. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that the Bears were on of two teams in which the Panthers’ engaged on trade discussions regarding Newton.
Rapoport’s report re-ignited a debate of whether the Bears made the right move by trading a fourth round selection for Foles as opposed waiting until the Panthers released Newton and signing the veteran without sacrificing a draft selection.
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Though, for the Bears, there should be no second guessing of this decision.
Lets first clear the notion of the Bears giving up a fourth round selection to acquire Foles.
There is a rule of thumb when observing the quarterback position in the NFL — follow the money. Foles’ contract re-structure and the inclusion of a player opt out clause after each of the next two seasons is a clear indicator that Foles will have an opportunity to start. To that end, a fourth round selection for an above-average starting quarterback in the NFL is a steal.
Now, for the Newton portion of this debate.