Ravens should avoid signing Cam Newton to be their backup QB

The Baltimore Ravens‘ backup quarterback job was a point of much discussion this offseason. Following the release of Cam Newton this morning, would it make sense for the Ravens to explore bringing him in?

The short answer is no.

Newton was released by the New England Patriots on Tuesday in a decision that caught many off guard.

The former league MVP was competing with rookie Mac Jones for the starting job, and although it wasn’t a surprise to see Jones get the nod, it certainly was a surprise to see Newton sent packing.

But there’s a reason for that. There’s a reason the Patriots decided to roll with Brian Hoyer as the veteran backup as opposed to keeping Newton.

And that very reason is why the Ravens should steer clear of Newton.

The Ravens don’t need to bring Cam Newton into their QB room

At the moment, the backup for the Ravens is projected to be Tyler Huntley. The former undrafted free agent entered the summer in a battle for the backup job with Trace McSorley, but it soon became apparent that he was the favorite.

An untimely injury thwarted any chances McSorley had of winning the job — a job Huntley was already the favorite to win anyway.

Huntley excelled this summer and more than looked the part of an NFL backup. For starters, the Ravens don’t need to add another quarterback to their room.

Huntley, while unproven, showed that he can handle the role this summer. But there are even more reasons to avoid Newton.

We need to address the elephant in the room here. Without tackling the contentious discussion entirely, Newton’s unvaccinated status serves as a competitive disadvantage for any team he’s on.

That’s especially true when he’s the backup. On top of that, pairing him with the also unvaccinated Lamar Jackson would be a disaster waiting to happen.

If one of the two were to test positive for COVID-19, it’s highly likely that the other would be deemed a close contact at the very least — something that would prove detrimental during the season.

Newton’s vaccination saga was part of what got him kicked out of New England in the first place.

Again, this isn’t a personal opinion. It’s just the reality of the NFL’s current rules regarding vaccinated and unvaccinated players.

While a shell of his former self, Newton probably has a little more left in the tank than most are willing to admit. But not only do the Ravens not need to sign him, but they’d be adding a player who comes with a certain degree of risk.

A risk that could ultimately affect their starting quarterback.

It’s unlikely the Ravens pursue Cam Newton for the reasons above. Nor should they. Roll with Huntley and call it a day.