It was a bit of a surprise when the Panthers moved on from former MVP Cam Newton this offseason, releasing him in favor of signing Teddy Bridgewater.
But now, nearly two weeks after his release, Newton is still without a team.
The Jets, meanwhile, could use a veteran backup behind Sam Darnold, so the question must be asked: Could Newton and the Jets be a fit?
Throughout his free agency process, Newton has expressed his desire to still be a starting NFL quarterback, but at this point, there aren't many starting jobs still open, which has led to Newton changing his mind a bit.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Newton is now open to being a backup.
"The thought process all along is that Newton wants to be a starter," Rapoport said. "He does want to be a starter. A former MVP, he should be a starter. But the reality is there aren't any starting jobs available, so now maybe a little bit of a shift in philosophy here.
"My understanding is that Cam Newton has not ruled out taking a backup job in the right situation."
The former first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Newton is a three-time Pro Bowler and was named league MVP following the 2015 season, as he led the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance against the Denver Broncos.
But after being so durable for his first eight seasons, Newton saw his 2019 season lost to a shoulder injury. And now, he's still without a team.
The Jets have Darnold entrenched as their starter, but after that, there's a need for quarterback depth. The team drafted James Morgan in the fourth round, and David Fales and Mike White are still on the roster, but finding a solid, veteran backup for Darnold could still be a priority for the Jets.
Newton in the New York media market, as a backup no less, could be a very interesting mix. Plus, would the Jets want to have Darnold looking over his shoulder every time he makes a mistake, knowing that a former league MVP is over on the bench?
Other veteran QBs are still on the market, such as Joe Flacco, Blake Bortles and Mike Glennon, but if Newton is healthy, there's no question he's the most talented of the options.
The former Heisman Trophy winner could be a player for Jets fans to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.
Video: Jets Coach Adam Gase talks Sam Darnold and Frank Gore