Patriots Super Bowl MVP sees big Year 2 for Cam Newton

The latest buzz suggests the New England Patriots are keen on trading up to nab their quarterback of the future in this month’s draft, but that doesn’t change the fact that they re-signed Cam Newton to ostensibly be their starter for next season.

While some fans have their reservations about the former MVP, you can’t argue with the notion that signing him to a one-year, $5.1 million deal — that’s admittedly worth close to $14 million in maximum value when you account for playing incentives — is an absolute steal.

For those wondering, we say that despite the woefully inconsistent season Newton endured under center in 2020.

Not only does logic suggest that he can only perform better, but he’s entering a much more favorable situation compared to last campaign.

Newton is gaining steam around league circles as a prime bounce-back candidate, and fans can  add one of the most notable big-game players in Patriots history to the list of folks who are backing him to silence his doubters next season.

Speaking at the Patriots’ season-ticket member draft preview, Deion Branch seemingly didn’t hesitate in asserting that Newton will have a monster second season in Foxborough.

Patriots legend Deion Branch has big expectations for Cam Newton in 2021.

"“Given the offseason (he’ll have), I think we’ll see a better Cam,” Branch told the media, via ESPN reporter Mike Reiss. “Everybody is always talking about the 2015 [MVP] Cam Newton, but I’d like to go back to just the 2018 (version) — 67.9% passing, 24 TDs, 13 interceptions. If they can get that type of performance, I think this will be a great year.”"

A two-time champion with the Patriots who took home Super Bowl MVP honors back in 2005, Branch makes some strong points here. For starters, the odds were stacked against Newton the moment he signed last offseason, which was truncated amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 31-year-old didn’t sign until the end of June, giving him just a few months to get fully acclimated to New England’s entangled playbook. It’s been reiterated countless times over the last several months, but he also fell victim to one of the worst pass-catching arsenals in the NFL.

On top of that,  Newton tested positive for COVID-19 early in the season just as he was establishing a groove under center. That forced him away from the team for two weeks, and he looked deprived of confidence and his physical intangibles upon re-entering the fold.

Newton, if you remember, was the talk of the league over the first three weeks of the year, in which he completed over 69% of his passes for 714 yards and two touchdowns to two interceptions, adding 149 yards and four additional scores on the ground.

The Patriots were also 2-1 during that span. Then, however, the former No. 1 overall pick was diagnosed with COVID-19 and his entire season went off the rails after he returned.

With a full offseason to learn the playbook and an overhauled receiving and tight end corps to make his life easier in the pocket, fans might just see Newton return to his very best in 2021.

While he might not return to his MVP form of 2015, the Patriots — like Branch implied in his comments — would be hard-pressed not to notch several more wins than they did last year if he’s able to replicate the dominance he enjoyed just three years ago in Carolina.

Patriots: Tom Brady’s throwing coach explains why Cam Newton will be better

Former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's throwing coach, Tom House, explained why Cam Newton will be better under center next season.