Report: Cam Newton would be interested in trade to Bears

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton would accept a hypothetical trade to the Chicago Bears, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Newton is currently on the injured reserve for a Lisfranc fracture in his foot and is considering having surgery. Recovery would reportedly take between eight weeks and three months. The injury was discovered prior to Week 3 of the 2019 season.

Newton started the first two games of the year for Carolina before going down for the year, losing in both games. He threw for a combined 563 yards, no touchdowns and one interception with a 55.7 completion percentage. His status on Carolina’s roster has since become expendable due to Kyle Allen’s performance as his replacement, as well as Newton’s hefty price tag.

The three-time Pro Bowler and 2015 MVP is currently in the fourth year of a five-year contract extension signed in June of 2015. He is on track to make $19.1 million in 2020 with a cap hit of $21.1 million.

The Bears are in dire need of competition at the quarterback position, as Mitchell Trubisky has disappointed in his third year in the league. Currently sitting at 4-5, the team’s plans to compete for a Super Bowl in 2019 have simply not come to fruition. Thus, adding a veteran this offseason to fight for the starting job could be an avenue they could take this offseason.

Newton would arguably provide a higher upside than any other realistic option the team could add at quarterback this offseason, and giving him a full offseason to recover from nagging injuries could help him get back to full strength. Plus, the former No. 1 overall pick would likely be their best bet to revive the title window the Bears’ roster is currently built for.

At the same time, though, there is risk in such a pricy addition. Newton, who turns 31 in May, has struggled mightily with injuries over the past two seasons, and he has not been the same since his shoulder injury suffered midway through 2018. Though he is currently on a deal with one remaining year, he carries a hefty price tag and would prevent the Bears from re-signing other contributors. A hypothetical trade for Newton would also likely cost them one of their second-round pick in the 2020 draft.

The Bears would be wise to consider any possible option to improve at quarterback, so Newton could realistically be an option for them in the offseason.