No, 49ers won’t be adding former Patriots QB Cam Newton

The Patriots released Cam Newton. But before you ask, no. The 49ers won’t be in any sort of pursuit of the one-time NFL MVP.

At some point, if there hasn’t been already, there will be a San Francisco 49ers fan out there suggesting the Niners target former New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton.

Full stop.

Newton, of course, was let go after his one-year stint under head coach Bill Belichick, which included speculation he’d be New England’s QB1 over the high-profile rookie, Mac Jones.

News of the transaction was first made public by the Boston Globe on Tuesday morning.

Jones impressed during the preseason. Newton ultimately lost out. And rather than having him around as Jones’ backup in 2021, Belichick did what Belichick does: his thing.

But, as far as any Newton-to-Niners talk out there, let’s not have any of it.

Cam Newton should be on a roster in 2021, just not the 49ers

While some may argue Newton is only a shell of his former 2015 NFL MVP self, namely his eight touchdowns passing against 10 interceptions last year, he still might be an intriguing option for a team looking for a bit more clarity under center.

Maybe the Houston Texans. How about the Denver Broncos? Heck, perhaps a reunion with his former head coach with the Carolina Panthers, now-Washington Football Team coach Ron Rivera.

San Francisco, meanwhile, doesn’t have any sort of need for a well-known yet back-end-of-his-career quarterback like Newton. At least not with its own quarterback competition brewing between Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance.

“But what about Newton mentoring Lance as a mobile quarterback in his own right?” you ask.

Lance, who rushed for 1,100 yards at North Dakota State in 2019, already has that trick up his sleeve. Or pant leg, if that’s the jargon. If there’s an area where Lance needs to improve his game, it’s as a pocket passer.

Newton, and his career 60.1 completion percentage, wasn’t of that ilk during his pro career.

Exciting? Yes. Newton certainly was that during the high point of his career, which is now likely entering its twilight. And while he might not be the MVP-caliber player he once was, he surely deserves a spot on a roster.

Just not with the 49ers.