Los Angeles Chargers: Cam Newton to the Chargers — A gut feeling

With Philip Rivers’ days in Los Angeles appearing numbered, the discussion has begun around who could be the Los Angeles Chargers next quarterback.

Philip Rivers has not been great this season and the Los Angeles Chargers‘ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night showcased that. Rivers’ days as the quarterback of the Los Angeles Chargers appear to be numbered and we have already dedicated an entire article to why that is the case.

That leaves the Chargers will a hole to be filled at the quarterback position with several different ways to go. The common conclusion is to draft a quarterback in the first round, which should absolutely be explored in the deep 2020 quarterback draft class.

However, rookie quarterbacks are not always great right away and need some time to develop. Some develop faster than others and some benefit from sitting for a year or two and learning from a veteran. That strategy worked for Rivers, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.

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And with the Chargers likely falling in the 10-20 range in the draft, they are not going to get a shot at someone such as Joe Burrow. Maybe they can get Tua Tagovailoa if he slips because of his injury, which would open the door further for the Chargers needing a bridge quarterback to give Tua two years or so to recover and learn.

That would be the optimal outcome, but either way, the Chargers are likely going to look for an established quarterback that can be a mentor as well as cash in on this current window the team has with the promising playmakers on offense and defense.

And that leads me to someone who I have had a gut feeling about since before any of the Rivers’ discussion even started: Cam Newton.

Newton also appears to be at the end of the road with his current team, the Carolina Panthers, after being placed on the injured reserve and seeing Kyle Allen thrive in relief. With one year left on his deal, the Panthers may simply look to move Newton in the offseason, looking to get something out of him.

That is where the Chargers come in and trade a late-round pick to take one year of Newton and the salary off of the Panthers’ hands. It may seem like a low price to pay, but the Panthers really do not have much leverage in the situation. The highest I can see the pick being is a fourth-round pick.

It would be worth it for the Chargers. While Newton has not looked great in his recent performances, it is also attributed to his injuries. A fully-healed Newton is still an above-average quarterback with an extremely high ceiling.

He is good enough to contend with the core that the Chargers have and is not a long-term commitment, allowing the team to transition to the future of the franchise while also remaining competitive.

Essentially, he would be a better version of Tyrod Taylor, who was primed to do the same with the Cleveland Browns and is ironically now on the Chargers.

I have had this gut feeling for months and with all of this Rivers talk, I can’t help but think it is going to become a reality. Only time will tell, though, but don’t be surprised if the Los Angeles Chargers are in play for Cam Newton.