NFL rumors: Insider names QB not named Aaron Rodgers Jets need to add

April 10, 2023 ndowd

While the New York Jets are trying to acquire Aaron Rodgers, CBS Sports insider Josina Anderson says they should go after this quarterback too.

The New York Jets are waiting patiently for the team to officially acquire quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. After all, he did announce his intention to play for the Jets in 2023. But, the two teams are trying to work out a deal.

Once Rodgers does arrive in the New York/New Jersey area to receive his Gang Green uniform, the depth behind him will become a question. They have Zach Wilson slotted in as the primary backup, despite his struggles this past season, which forced the team to make a push for a proven veteran like Rodgers.

During an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson discussed Cam Newton’s list of quarterbacks that he would be willing to backup, with Rodgers being one of them. Anderson told host Joy Taylor why Newton joining the Jets would be a good move.

Josina Anderson says Cam Newton would be good fit for Jets

“I think that, right now, their QB2 situation is not tenuous if you think about the possibility, God forbid, obviously they have to get Aaron Rodgers first, but if something were to happen to No. 12 and he is injured and can’t perform, is Zach Wilson really where they want to put all of their aspirations and hopes as far as putting that in his hands? When I think back to the Thursday Night Football game against the Jaguars and that being the last time Zach Wilson performed before a national audience, and how he looked like a deer in headlights, that would give me great, great pause, and I know that the Jets feel like ‘as long as anyone’s in a Jets uniform, we’re going to do all our best to develop him,’ and all of that other stuff. And I’m not saying cut him and all of that other stuff.

“What I think and I’ve been saying this in the New York, New Jersey market is that I feel like Zach should be QB3. They should have brought someone in like a Jameis Winston, someone who’s performed under pressure, shown it. Cam Newton was in the Super Bowl…2015. He’s handled that type of pressure if something happens there, I think that that would be suitable.”

As Anderson brings up, Wilson did not exactly instill much confidence in the fanbase and a national audience in the Week 16 primetime game against the Jaguars. He was notably booed off the field by Jets fans at MetLife Stadium. Not to mention there was the Week 11 game against the New England Patriots, for which Wilson didn’t take accountability for the 10-3 loss, despite throwing for just 77 yards.

In a video posted to his YouTube page, Newton said he would be willing to be a backup in the NFL, but behind certain quarterbacks in particular. They were as follows:

Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (or wherever he lands)
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Malik Willis, Tennessee Titans
Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
Bryce Young
C.J. Stroud
Anthony Richardson

Newton spent the majority of his career with the Carolina Panthers as the first-overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. That pick paid dividends early on in his career, as he was one of the top quarterbacks in the league, he won the NFL MVP award in 2015 and led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50.

However, his production did fall off later on in his career. He was released by Carolina after the 2019 season, and joined the New England Patriots in 2020. After throwing for 2,657 yards, eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions (65.8 completion percentage), Newton was released after training camp, losing the starting job to rookie Mac Jones.

Newton last played in 2021, reuniting with the Panthers for eight games. During that stretch of games, Newton threw for 684 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 54.8-percent of his passes. Newton also ran for 230 yards and five touchdowns on 47 carries.

Will Newton end up back in the NFL? And which will give him a chance? Maybe we’ll get an answer at some point this offseason.

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