Odds to sign Cam Newton: Be wary of heavily favored Patriots
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The decreased demand for quarterbacks was on full display at the 2020 NFL Draft. Just five signal-callers were taken in the first 121 picks, speaking to the uniquely soft nature of the current market.
One team that was expected to select a quarterback on Day 2 of the draft was the New England Patriots, with many analysts mocking Jalen Hurts, Jacob Eason, or Jake Fromm as the team's newest passer.
But after Bill Belichick and Co. opted not to draft a quarterback, they find themselves the heavy favorites to land current free agent and former first overall pick Cam Newton at some point before next season.
| TEAM | ODDS (April 27) | ODDS (April 1) |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | -190 | +650 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +300 | +470 |
| Denver Broncos | +1000 | +600 |
| Chicago Bears | +1100 | N/A |
| Las Vegas Raiders | +1500 | +1200 |
| Washington Redskins | +1500 | +900 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | N/A | -150 |
There was plenty of pre-draft speculation that the Patriots could make an aggressive move to secure a quarterback, but none of it proved to be true. Instead, the team's willingness to continually ignore the position suggests Belichick is more than content to roll with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer as his quarterbacks in 2020.
Still, something just feels off about that last sentence, and oddsmakers obviously agree. But if the Patriots wanted to sign Newton, wouldn't they have done so already? After the Indianapolis Colts drafted Eason, a trade to bring back Jacoby Brissett seems like the likelier course of action for New England. Laying the chalk doesn't feel like the smart play here.
Jacksonville Jaguars (+300)The Jaguars have made clear their intent to give Gardner Minshew the reigns this season, but are they really content letting Joshua Dobbs and sixth-round pick Jake Luton fight for the backup job? There's an obvious need for a veteran option off the bench should Minshew falter. Though Newton doesn't necessarily fit with Jacksonville's desire to change the culture in the room, the reward may outweigh the risk.
Denver Broncos (+1000)There's no doubt the Broncos are all-in on Drew Lock, with John Elway likely eager to see what his young quarterback can do with all those new toys. Denver brought in Jeff Driskel this offseason to serve as Lock's backup, and there's little chance Elway would go the veteran route again after the Joe Flacco experiment failed so miserably last year. The Broncos are set under center.
Washington Redskins (+1500)The Ron Rivera connection might be difficult to overlook, but don't waste your money here. Though the Redskins' new head coach isn't tethered to Dwayne Haskins, Rivera had a choice as to which former Panthers quarterback to bring to Washington and opted to trade for Kyle Allen. That move put a concrete end to the Newton speculation.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
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