GMFB crew thinks Washington is a 'perfect fit' for Cam Newton originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
As the Washington Football team continues its search to find its quarterback of the future, one name that has frequently been linked to the franchise is Cam Newton.
The QB's ties to Washington are obvious. Newton spent the first nine years of his career playing under current Washington head coach Ron Rivera, winning four division titles and earning league MVP honors in 2015. Former Panthers GM Marty Hurney, who drafted Newton, recently joined Washington's revamped front office, too.
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While all of those are reasons for the 32-year-old Newton to reunite with his former coach, the reality is that there are plenty of other -- and likely better -- options out there. Newton is coming off an up-and-down campaign with New England and the fact that the Patriots don't appear to be in a rush to re-sign him is telling.
Yet, on Wednesday's edition of NFL Network's Good Morning Football, analyst Peter Schrager called Newton's fit in Washington "perfect."
"When it comes to Cam Newton, I'm not going to doubt him," Schrager said. "You put Cam Newton with a familiar coaching staff and with that charisma and that conviction in a setting that he believes he can be the alpha, I believe he still has a chance to succeed and in that NFC East, can flourish."
When Newton starred in Carolina, he was asked to do so much in order for the Panthers to succeed. In Washington, Schrager doesn't think that would have to be the case.
"He doesn't have to do it all," Schrager said. "This isn't the Carolina Panthers, where 'Cam Newton, we need you to throw for 300 yards and run for 100 yards, have three touchdowns and also be the face of the team.' Washington's got a lot of talent."
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Schrager cited Washington's defense full of young talent, particularly Chase Young, as a reason Newton could be attracted to the Burgundy and Gold. I mean, what quarterback wouldn't want to play with an up-and-coming, yet already loaded defense like Washington's?
Washington's defense is the strength of the team, but Schrager made sure to point out the team does have talent on offense in Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson and that Newton would be working with arguably a more skilled offensive unit in D.C. than he had in New England last season.
NFL Network analyst Nate Burleson agreed with Schrager, saying McLaurin and others could assume their leadership roles, too, as it wouldn't all be placed on Newton.
"I'm glad you brought up Terry, or Captain Terry as he likes to be called," Burleson said. "The fact that he does have that nickname, it shows you that there are other leaders on this team."
Former New York Giants center Shaun O'Hara also agreed with Schrager, saying everything he laid out "makes a lot of sense."
Newton is known for having a strong personality, but almost all his teammates in the past have had nothing but great things to say about him. Rivera has only raved about his former QB since arriving in Washington, too.
In Washington, NFL Network Kim Jones thinks Newton could have a similar locker room presence to the incredible one Alex Smith had in 2020.
"Alex Smith was adored in that locker room," Jones said. "I think Cam Newton could walk into that locker room and be somewhat similar, perhaps very similarly adored, respected. That means a lot."
To conclude his argument for Washington being the right landing spot for Newton, Schrager cited that the quarterback is being doubted more than ever before. Earlier this week, Newton said he's still one of the 32 best QBs in the league and he "can't go out like that."
"I'm excited about Washington. I think Cam Newton brings a certain charisma and conviction," Schrager said. "The fact that he's being doubted and written off, more so than even last year. I think this year, with people saying he's done, he looked terrible last year, all this stuff, give me Cam Newton and Ron Rivera, two people who have been doubted their entire lives...He is the perfect fit for the Washington Football Team."
