Not promised anything The Patriots haven't promised Newton a starting job, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports. Impact Newton may not have gotten any guarantees, but he'll be the favorite to emerge from a competition with 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham and 34-year-old journeyman Brian Hoyer. The 2015 NFL MVP signed a one-year contact worth up to $7.5 million, hoping to repair his value after shoulder and foot injuries contributed to 16 missed games and uneven performance the past two seasons. Newton probably won't have great pass-catching weapons in New England, but he has a couple reliable possession targets in James White and Julian Edelman, not to mention a top-tier coaching staff headed by Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The Patriots presumably will add some concepts to their playbook to take advantage of Newton's mobility, but it's not clear if the new stuff will form the foundation of the team's running game or be more of an occasional diversion.
JULY 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE