SF 49ers: 5 quarterbacks fans should cross off 2021 ‘wish’ list
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: Cam Newton, New England Patriots
There would have been a time when somehow landing New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton would have been an SF 49ers steal.
That time is no longer, though.
Newton, 31 years old, simply hasn’t been the same since his league MVP year back in 2015 with the Carolina Panthers. Mismanagement by Carolina’s coaching staff and a lengthy list of serious injuries thwarted what was already a stellar career, and one can only wonder how Newton could have performed since then if he stayed healthy.
Newton’s previous injuries weren’t as much of a concern during his one-year stint in New England. But with the Patriots not interested in bringing him back, there’s inevitably going to be discussions about the Niners bringing Newton in.
Yes, it probably would be on a cheap one-year deal. Yet for a player who passed eight touchdowns against 10 interceptions last season, albeit on a bad Pats offense, it’s tough to envision Kyle Shanahan looking at Newton as anything more than a stopgap piece.
And that’s not where San Francisco is at — i.e. a rebuild or reconstruct phase.