Ron Rivera right not to pursue Cam Newton unless the situation is right

Cam Newton is still a free agent after being cut by the Carolina Panthers during the 2020 offseason. But as Ron Rivera said, Newton’s suitors are “about the situation and circumstances”, and those may not line up with the Redskins.

The Carolina Panthers made a lot of changes to their quarterback room during the 2020 offseason. After parting ways with Ron Rivera, they traded Kyle Allen to Rivera’s new team, the Washington Redskins, and parted ways with nine-year starter, Cam Newton, to signed Teddy Bridgewater to a deal worth $20 million-plus over three years.

Newton, a one-time MVP, remains on the free-agent market. We’re now into May, but no team has inked a deal with the veteran quarterback. He may be waiting to see what his best potential option to win a starting job might be, or he may not be getting offers that he likes enough to pull a trigger on a deal.

The longer the Newton lingers, the more questions there will be about him potentially joining the Redskins. But what does Ron Rivera think about that possibility? In a recent episode of NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, Rivera said it was about “the situation” more than anything else, and implied that the situation wouldn’t work with the Redskins.

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"You know, the thing about Cam really is the situation. We’re in a situation where we’ve got two really young quarterbacks, one that’s been with us, been in the system, understands how we want things done and the other one is a guy who was taken last year in the first round and shows some promise.I think with Cam, and I have thought about it, I mean, it’s something that’s run through my mind, and it’s about the situation and circumstances. I’m not sure I would do it. I’m not sure if I wouldn’t do it. It depends on circumstances."

The circumstances in Washington would seem to dictate that Newton isn’t an option. As Rivera mentioned, the team has Dwayne Haskins and the 2019 first-round pick may be ready to take the next step in his second season. And if he struggles or has issues learning the offense this offseason, Allen is in the fold as a solid backup.

Beyond that, the team still has the contract of Alex Smith on the books. And while it doesn’t seem likely that he’ll play again after the brutal leg injury he suffered in 2018, he’ll still be on the books as long as he doesn’t retire.

The Redskins have the cap space needed to sign Newton, if necessary. But unless either Haskins or Allen gets banged up, they’d be better off rolling that over to 2021 to target some big-name players in free agency for one big reason: The Redskins simply don’t need another quarterback in the room right now.

Washington added undrafted rookie Steven Montez to the roster to serve as the third-string option. They should just roll with the youth they have at the position as they look for a long-term solution at the quarterback position.

Next. Five players that may not make the Redskins roster. dark

Washington isn’t a win-now team and while taking a chance on a former MVP-caliber talent like Newton may sound appealing to some, it just doesn’t fit the direction of this team. He’d be the best option the team could target if an injury occurs given his familiarity with the system and his high upside. But the ‘Skins are better off letting him go elsewhere, whether it’s as a stopgap starter for a team or a top backup for a playoff-bound team, instead of spending their valuable cap space on him.

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