Cam Newton deal filled with incentives, only gets to $14 million if ‘everything goes perfectly’

If you were as flabbergasted as everyone else that the Cam Newton deal with the Patriots is for $14 million, take a deep breath. It sounds unlikely he’ll see every dollar.

As reported by Jeff Howe on Friday, Newton’s new deal with the Patriots is “heavy on incentives.” He will only get to $14 million if “everything goes perfectly.” That’s an indication that the incentives are tied to passing stats or playing time. Incentives are typically split into two categories: likely and not likely to be earned. The latter incentives would count against the following season’s salary cap if they are earned.

(UPDATE: According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, a total of $6 million is “tied to honors and how far the Patriots might advance in the playoffs.” So if Newton wins league MVP and the Patriots make a deep playoff run, you’ll gladly pay that money. But these are probably among the incentives designated as “not likely to be earned.”)

Ultimately, it appears that the $14 million price tag amounts to not much more than sticker shock. But Newton still looks likely to make more money in 2021 than he did in 2020, which is a curious move for a quarterback who threw only eight touchdown passes in 15 starts last season.

The hope is that, if Newton can’t turn it around on the field, that he’s a powerful recruiting tool for free agents and continues to be the same great teammate and locker room leader that he was in 2020. Brian Hoyer is set to become a free agent. So if Newton is the new Hoyer, that’s an upgrade in that role.

We’ll keep you updated on everything relating to the Cam Newton deal and the Patriots’ offseason plans right here at 985TheSportsHub.com.

It’s being widely reported that the Pats may not be done adding at quarterback. Here are some more options for them.

• Jimmy Garoppolo

  Share

  Duh. Jimmy G should be at the top of everyone’s list for realistic or probable quarterback options for the Patriots - even if it means a trade. Bill Belichick should have to give up a package closer to the Carson Wentz trade than Matthew Stafford to get back his original successor for Tom Brady. Durability is an issue, but Garoppolo should remain a great fit for the Pats.

• Derek Carr

  Share

  It feels like forever ago when Carr was an MVP candidate as he led the Raiders to a 12-3 record with strong passing numbers. He’s been an efficient passer and would likely manage the Patriots offense well. But has he proven enough to be confident he can win? The Patriots would need to continue to improve the team around Carr to become a legitimate contender.

• QB Mitchell Trubisky

  Share

  This is a Belichick kind of free agent. Trubisky’s stock is down after entering the NFL as the No. 2 overall pick. He hasn’t made enough plays or shown nearly enough consistency throwing the ball to emerge as a franchise quarterback. Belichick might love the challenge of making Trubisky the player he was meant to be. But if the Patriots go this route, they’d better have a good plan B.
• Marcus Mariota

  Share

  The former Titans quarterback looked solid in his one start for the Raiders in 2020. He’s had a bit of bad luck cycling through three coaches and five (!) different offensive coordinators, so some stability could do him some good. He’d be relatively cheap to acquire. The concern with Mariota is that he may not be good enough to elevate everyone else around him, so better weapons would be imperative.

• QB Jacoby Brissett

  Share

  Like Garoppolo, the familiarity is a big plus for Brissett. He had flashes of success as the starter for the Colts. Brissett is at least competent throwing the football, so he’d certainly be an improvement over Cam Newton. But ideally, he would be paired with a high draft pick in the QB room. It shouldn't take much to sign him, either.

• Ryan Fitzpatrick

  Share

  Like with Brissett and others, if Fitzpatrick signs with the Patriots the ideal situation is to pair him with a rookie first-round pick. You start with Fitzpatrick, get a little FitzMagic out of him, and hopefully the kid is ready to go once Fitzpatrick goes in the tank. This type of scenario is becoming more probable as the offseason goes on.

MORE: 11 weapons for Patriots in free agency

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.