If the Carolina Panthers plan to trade star quarterback Cam Newton this offseason, the Los Angeles Chargers could reportedly emerge as a suitor for the former NFL MVP.
According to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, there is increased speculation around the NFL that the Chargers could pursue trading for Newton. While the 30-year-old carries some medical concerns, he could be a compelling option if Los Angeles wants to compete in 2020.
The Chargers have been expected to draft a quarterback with their 2020 first-round pick. However, there’s a real chance the top three options are gone by the No. 6 and reaching for Jordan Love likely isn’t an option.
The front office must also weigh the level of fan interest from the community in Los Angeles, which remains a major area of concern. A rookie quarterback is unlikely to draw much excitement, but Newton’s personality and talent could be perfect for bringing in fans.
When healthy, Newton remains one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. Before missing 14 games this season with a Lisfranc issue, he posted a 94.2 quarterback rating with 28 total touchdowns in 2018.
Pairing Newton with receiver Keenan Allen and running back Austin Ekeler could bring more excitement to this offense and potentially take it to the next level. If the Chargers push for Tom Brady falls short, their next call should be to Carolina to land Newton.