The 2020 NFL Draft . Most of the notable moves have been made in NFL free agency. Now the biggest offseason question becomes whether anyone, most notably the Patriots, will still sign quarterback Cam Newton.

The Patriots have made only one veteran move in the wake of seeing Tom Brady leave for the Buccaneers. That was bringing back former Brady backup Brian Hoyer. They also didn't draft any quarterbacks among , instead taking two undrafted rookie flyers on Louisiana Teach'sJ'Mar Smith and Michigan State's Brian Lewerke.

Paul Molitor Jersey All that adds up to New England, for now and very likely later, rolling with second-year fourth-rounder Jarrett Stidham as its starting replacement for Brady in 2020. That doesn't mean the Patriotsshould Jason Castro Jersey suddenly act on Newton after no real pre-draft indicationsthatthey had plans to add him.

There has been little interest in Newton from any team on the open market. TheSaints reportedly are about to signformer Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston as a backup to Drew Breesona well-below-market deal. That would suggest Newton, who was set to make $19 million for the season if he hadn't been released by the Panthers, can be now had on the cheap.

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So logic would suggest the Patriots signing Newton at this very late stage of free agency would be all reward with absolutely no risk. But consider that the Patriots have only $1 million left under the salary cap. To make room for Newton, even at a reduced rate, they would need to make a move on another player such as trading left guard Joe Thuney, who signed his franchise tender at nearly $15 million.

There's one obstacle right there, which would also precludethem from signing or trading foranother veteran QB. Should Byron Buxton Jersey they clear that financial hurdle, there are simply too many other question marks with Newton

Although at one point it seemed intriguing to see what Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels could do with a much different kind of QB than Brady, that couldn't outweigh concerns about Newton's durability at age 31 andcoming off consecutive seasons cut short by respective injuries to his right shoulder and left foot. While vetting his health has been difficult in the current challengingmedical landscape, the nature of the virtual offseason alsomakes it Max Kepler Jersey hard to trust thatNewton could fully grasp the Patriots' complicated offense anywhere close to their liking.

If wear and tear at his age weren't an i sue, there would be more confidence that Newton has the rare physical skills to rise back toward the pa sing and running ceiling he showed as the 2015 NFL MVP. Instead, he's become the ultimate unknown quantity.That doesn't mesh withBelichick, who ismeticulous about certainty and finding his type of players to "do their job."

Should Newton go to New England, he would be expected to be handed the starting job, even though at this point anyone who the Patriots bring in would have to compete with Stidham. They have shown great confidence in Stidham by not going after a viable short-term alternative. Newton already has a big personalty that may not mesh with Belichick, especially as an unwilling backup.

Whenno one else targeted Newton as a replacement starter, why should the Patriots, as shrewd an organization as they come Minnesota Twins Jersey , think it's a savvy late move? The Patriots are considered the favorites for Newton out of convenience, but the reality is, the longer they've gone postBrady without signing him, the le ser the logic a sociated with ending his free agency.

For any direct shot at starting in 2020, the Jaguars provide the best remaining opportunity for Newton. But they Martin Perez Jersey just got out of the Nick Foles expensive bridge me s and should do their due diligence on second-year sixth-rounder Gardner Minshew to figure out whether they need to select a QB high in the 2021 draft, where,as a rebuilding team, they have the best shot at Clemson's Trevor Lawrence.

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The Broncos had come upas an option for Newton in a similar vein before the draft, but their decision to load up on more offensive skill players suggests they're all in to lift second-year second-rounder Drew Kirby Puckett Jersey Lock. John Elway may havebeen enamored with Newton in the past, but he's now locked into a higher-upside pa ser.

The Bears are out after trading for Foles as the contingency for Mitchell Trubisky. The Redskins are out after trading for Newton's former Panthers' teammate Kyle Allen as the contingency for Dwayne Haskins. The Raiders are out after signing Marcus Mariota as the contingency for Derek Carr.

The last team somewhat on the radar for Newton is the Steelers. There, Newton would need to settle for a Winston-like new No. 2 role behind a future aging Hall Rod Carew Jersey of Famer, Ben Roethlisberger. But consider the Steelers chose not to stash a potential succe sor in the draft, so going after one who's in his 30s makes little sense. Given Newton's durability i sues,he's also not he most comfortable backup for Big Ben, coming off a season mostly lost to amajor elbow injury.

Nothing happened during the NFL Draft that changed Newton's frustrating free-agency status. Barring a shocking injury or retirement that forces a team's hand to be more desperate about finding a potential starting QB for 2020, there's a good chance he will be out of luck and out of the league after nine seasons.