The NFL season lives in the hypothetical, much like almost every other sport during COVID. New England dropped us a bomb shell when it was announced that Cam Newton would be signing with the team. The former MVP turned 31 just under 2 months ago and the news came out he would not be guaranteed a starting spot. I recently finished my 32 team power ranking and I had a handful of people ask me the same question. “Does this change your ranking of the Patriots?” Instead of giving you a flat out answer, let me take you on a journey. I want to examine Cam’s stats, his injury history, and the current state of the Patriots roster.

The Stats

A Quarterback is ultimately measured in their ability to win games. Obviously there are circumstances beyond their control, such as coaching or roster moves. But for the most part, the best QBs in the league get it done when it counts. The signal caller boasts a 68-55-1 record in the NFL, but three of his eight seasons have ended with a winning record. This includes a Super Bowl appearance in 2015.

From a passing standpoint, the number do not exactly jump out at you. He has only passed the 4,000 yard mark once in his career (by 51 yards). Additionally, Newton has only completed 60% or more of his passes in three out of the eight seasons for a average total of 59.6%.

On the ground is where he really shines. The new Patriots QB has rushed for 500 yards or more in all but one of his season under center for the Panthers. With 4,806 yards, he sits 3rd all time in QB rushing yards. A mere 122 yards behind Randall Cunningham for 2nd all time. This leads to natural concerns of slowing down. Dual threat QBs have regularly struggled to stay healthy when going deeper into their 30s.

The Injuries

One of the biggest issues surrounding Cam Newton is his health. Many believe it is what led the Panthers to move on from the QB this offseason. As a dual threat, injuries happen frequently. Although injuries are a part of the game, guys like Lamar Jackson, Cam Newton, and Josh Allen, rely on the health and wealth of their legs.

This looks like a pretty standard injury list for a QB who has been in the league for a decade. The thing that gets people concerned is his most recent injury. Due to the coronavirus, whether or not he recovered from this injury is unknown. Coupled with the wear and tear that come with an NFL body, his injury status is a huge question mark. This is probably the best reason why the Patriots and Browns were reportedly the only teams interested in his services.

The Team

With or without Tom Brady, this team was bound to have some struggles. Outside of Julian Edleman, there are no clear cut receiving options. The running back room is always full in New England, so Newton will not have to worry in that category. The team around him will be fully stocked, but it feels eerily similar to the opportunities Newton had in Carolina. Not a lot of pass catchers, but one consistent guy (Greg Olsen). A great pass catching back (Chrisitian McCaffrey). This situation will not be much different from what he faced in Carolina, potentially outside of coaching.

Bottom Line

Signing Cam Newton does not make a difference for the New England Patriots. Outside of better coaching, he has not shown us that he is capable of taking his team to the next level. Completing 60% of his passes with limited range of motion in his legs will not lead to many wins. At the end of the day, there is going to be a QB competition in Massachusetts. Any team that has the slightest controversy in the quarterback room will not be seeing any success during that season, plain and simple.