Carolina Panthers: What owner’s letter to fans could mean for Cam Newton
By Luke Tucker
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper sent a letter to fans on Friday that hinted at the organization’s future.
For the first time since purchasing the team in 2018, Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is hinting at a massive rebuild. In a letter sent out to PSL owners this week, Tepper stated that before the team can reach its ultimate goal, a championship, “sometimes you have to do a little tearing down before moving forward.” The billionaire also thanked fans for “sticking with us,” and that winning a Super Bowl “won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.” He didn’t explicitly use the term “rebuild,” but he may as well have. Prior to his letter, many fans expected more of a “retooling” than a full-scale rebuild. Now, though, it appears as though the Panthers will go the latter route. Here’s what that could mean specifically for Cam Newton’s future.
After nine seasons, Cam Newton’s tenure with the team that drafted him is more than likely coming to a close.
The Panthers have had only first-overall selection in team history, and it’s safe to say they put it to good use. Fresh off a national championship and Heisman Trophy-winning season, Carolina took Cam Newton with the first pick back in 2011. Since then, Newton has taken the Panthers to the playoffs four times, a Super Bowl, broken nearly every passing record in franchise history, and has broken countless NFL records. Not to mention he has been named an All-Pro, three-time Pro Bowler, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and league MVP. He was even in the running for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award this past season. There’s no denying how much Newton has meant to both the Panthers and the city of Charlotte, but with a rebuild on the way, his time in Carolina may be coming to an end.
The Panthers have already seen Luke Kuechly and Greg Olsen off this offseason, and prior to the season parted ways with Thomas Davis and Ryan Kalil. Newton is one of the few players remaining from the 2015 Super Bowl team, and he could very well be the next one to go. Anytime a team goes into a rebuild, the first position to be evaluated is always the quarterback spot. Newton has been one of the most dynamic signal-callers the league has ever seen, but specifically over the past two years, he has struggled to stay on the field. He has had his throwing shoulder surgically repaired twice in the last three years, and missed all but two games in the 2019 campaign with a Lisfranc injury. With a new head coach, the team could very well look to start fresh at the position.
If the Panthers were to move on from Newton, several players have been rumored to be potential replacements.
As of right now, the only way Carolina would be willing to part ways with Newton would be through a trade. Teams such as the Bears, Chargers, and even the Raiders have been named as potential trade partners. Moving the former MVP would save the Panthers about $19 million in cap room in 2020. If they were to move on from Newton, though, the obvious next step would be to find his replacement.
If Carolina were to elect to replace Newton via free agency, one of the most likely options would be Teddy Bridgewater. The 27-year-old filled in admirably for Drew Brees in 2019, and will likely look to land a job as a starter in 2020. Another potential free-agent replacement the team could pursue is Ryan Tannehill. After spending the first seven years of his career in Miami, the Dolphins parted ways with Tannehill prior to last season. The Titans signed him as a backup in the offseason; however, he eventually took the starting job and led Tennessee to the AFC Championship. He proved in 2019 that in a run-first offense, he can be quite the effective quarterback.
Aside from the free-agent options, perhaps the most likely scenario would be that Will Grier and Kyle Allen would battle for the starting gig in 2020. The Panthers reportedly aren’t all that interested in any of the quarterbacks in this year’s draft; however, Justin Fields or Trevor Lawrence could very much be in play next year. If Carolina were to go that route, it’s likely that Grier, who was a third-round pick last year, would get the first shot. Despite all the speculation surrounding the Panthers’ quarterback saga, though, Tepper remains adamant that nothing will be decided until Newton’s health has been determined.