Several big-named quarterbacks are preparing to earn contract extensions in the coming season. Colin Kaepernick, Andy Dalton and Matt Ryan were the latest young quarterbacks to sign top-dollar deals and this offseason should be no different. The quarterback draft class that includes Russell Wilson, Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck are all eligible for new deals and are expected to break the bank. When that is said and done, Cam Newton will ink his deal.
The Carolina Panthers plan to keep Newton around for the long-term but considering his worth in the current market of quarterbacks is not easy. According to the Charlotte Observer, Newton and the Panthers have started discussing terms for a new contract, but the quarterback is in no rush to re-sign a deal just yet. That does not mean he intends on leaving Carolina. Newton is simply willing to let the market reset itself so he and Carolina can come up with a fair deal.
Right now, the quarterback contract market is out of control. Wilson is expected to sign a deal that makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL. The Seattle Seahawks have come out and said they will be creative in how they do that and NFL Insider Ian Rapoport believes he could ink a deal of fully-guaranteed money. The Colts and Luck could ink a deal that gives the quarterback $25 million per year according to ESPN.com. So where does Newton fall on that spectrum?
The Carolina Observer believes Newton could easily fall in line with what Luck might earn. He is set to earn $14.7 million in guaranteed money this season working off his fifth-year option that was picked up. The Panthers could then opt to use the franchise tag on the quarterback for 2016 if negotiations do not progress. Could Newton get a deal close to what Kaepernick signed? His compensation decreases by $2 million a year in order to help the cap hit.
According to team sources, Newton wants more in guaranteed money which might hurt negotiations. The quarterback's injury history could be what stalls contract talks as the Panthers might be hesitant to give out a lot for a quarterback that continues to miss a handful of games each year. General manager Dave Gettleman has made it clear that Newton is a franchise quarterback, but determining his contract number will be tough.
