4 quarterbacks the Washington Commanders should avoid in 2023

Commanders should avoid Cam Newton

Until Cam Newton formally announces his retirement from the NFL, there are some that believe he deserves another opportunity. But missing the entire 2022 campaign hasn’t done his career prospects any favors whatsoever.

The links between Newton and Ron Rivera need no explanation. This duo flourished with the Carolina Panthers during the 2010s, turning the franchise from an afterthought into a legitimate Super Bowl challenger with an electrifying style of play that revolutionized how dual-threat weapons under center are perceived.

Injuries and bad situations have been Newton’s kryptonite over the last few years. Something that’s seen him on the outside looking in ever since he returned to Carolina late in the 2021 season.

In all honesty, if Rivera wanted Newton to join him on the Washington Commanders, the move would have happened in 2020. But the head coach saw first-hand the brutal hits that came his way behind a porous offensive line, which obviously played a role in the team’s thought process.

With that being said, Newton and Sam Howell are familiar with one another – the North Carolina product is a graduate of his 7-on-7 camp – so adding him to a team-friendly deal as a mentor that could assist in red-zone packages might be something those in power contemplate.

However, it does appear highly unlikely.