Cam Newton comes in at #24 PHOTO: PatriotsOne ranking — this one by Bleacher Report — ranks the Patriots as having the 24th best quarterback in the NFL.
It is a long way from the Tom Brady or even the Drew Bledsoe days.
Bleacher Report writes, “Cam Newton had an awful 2020 campaign, averaging a career-low 177.1 passing yards per game with eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions. However, he signed with the New England Patriots last June and didn't have a full offseason to learn a new system after nine years with the Carolina Panthers.”
The publication's assessment of Newton goes down from there.
“Tough circumstances aside, Newton seems like he's on the decline. Last season, the 32-year-old held on to the ball too long in the pocket and may have lost zip on his fastball. Among qualifying quarterbacks, he ranked 30th in QBR (47.0),” adds BR.
“Newton's dual-threat capability props up his standing among bottom-tier quarterbacks. In 2020, the Patriots fielded the fourth-ranked ground attack, partially because of his 592 rushing yards. Leaguewide, he tied for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns (12). Despite the wear and tear on his body, Newton remains a viable threat on the ground, which forces linebackers and safeties to drop down into the box. With new perimeter weapons in Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, he could exploit one-on-one matchups downfield in a bounce-back year, which would keep rookie quarterback Mac Jones on the bench,” writes BR.
For all those Mac Jones fans, he isn't the starting QB for the Pats, at least not yet.
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