Colin Kaepernick signed a six-year, $126 million deal San Francisco 49ers earlier the month; massive deal that sent shockwaves throughout the league. Kaepernick received a crazy $61 million in injury guarantees, an amount that puts him in the upper echelon of quarterback in the NFL in terms of salary.
Kaepernick fits the prototype of an emerging trend for quarterbacks: quick, great escapibility and can throw bullets when called to. He’s not alone in this build, as many other teams are looking to add running quarterbacks that can throw, as well.
Think Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers, who threw for 3,379 yards and ran for 585 yards last season. Did I mention Kaepernick’s deal would affect the entire league? No one will be influenced more than Newton.
Newton is currently looking for an extension with the team that he led to an NFC South title and a matchup with the 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs. The team has not begun negotiations with the quarterback, but will need to soon if they want to extend him before the season.
Newton, who is signed through the 2015 season, told ESPN that he is not “terrified” that the deal for Kaepernick will affect his deal. It’s not the $110 million dollars he’d be worried about; rather, the $13 million guaranteed money. For Newton, that number is most likely smaller than he’d like to see.
If the Panthers use Kaepernick’s deal as leverage for Newton’s deal, then this saga could continue for a while. In this case, negotiations could last into the season and even span until after the season ends. Neither party will want that to happen, as it would create an unnecessary distraction during the season.
If the Panthers are smart, they will want to get the deal before the offseason becomes preseason. Losing four of their top receivers during the offseason, the Panthers should show urgency in retain their star quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Newton underwent ankle surgery earlier in the year, so he’ll be off the field until training camp. This could present a nice window for the Panthers to begin negotiations with Newton, as he won’t be training with the team yet.
However, the Panthers will come into these talks with an agenda. If that agenda includes anything less than $13 million guaranteed, it might take the season to work out. The Panthers have already made it clear that they want to sign Newton to a long-term deal, so the hefty $126 million stipend for Kaepernick could be in sight.
When will the Panthers get the deal done? I say both parties would hate the notion of dragging the negotiations out into the season. With that said, I think the deal gets done in the next few weeks.
The Panthers will need to cope with giving Newton the money he wants, which in three years or so may not look like much the way contracts numbers have been soaring. If the team can give Newton the security he needs, he won’t waste time signing the deal.
Newton seems like a player that is fully focused on playing football, so he will jump at the chance to sign a deal if it seems right. Whether the Panthers are willing to give that deal to him remains to be seen.