What does the future hold for former MVP and current fashion icon Cam Newton?

With the Panthers putting the veteran QB on season-ending IR, it appears his time in Carolina is coming to an end. The team has turned to Kyle Allen for the remainder of the 2019 season, and he has filled in admirably; the Panthers are 5-2 in Newton’s absence and are pushing for a playoff berth.

Newton clearly wasn’t healthy this year, looking like an inaccurate shell of his former self in two listless losses against the Rams and Buccaneers. The hope is that he uses the time off to fully recover from his foot injury and returns to being a top-level starting QB. Newton set a career-high in completion percentage (67.9) last season, while tossing 24 touchdowns even while hobbled by a shoulder injury that prematurely ended his season.

But Newton only has one year left on his contract, and Carolina can save $19 million if they cut or trade him in the offseason. Considering how quarterback-needy some NFL teams are, all signs point to a trade.

The most obvious landing place would be with the Chicago Bears. According to NFL Network, Newton would “welcome” a trade to the Bears if they enter the quarterback market in the offseason, and it would be surprising if they don’t. Former No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky has flopped in 2019, throwing for 1,390 yards and eight touchdowns in seven games. Trubisky consistently struggles to execute coach Matt Nagy’s system, and may be the only thing holding back a team that otherwise has the pieces to compete for a championship.

Chicago isn’t exactly loaded with assets to trade, though. They don’t have a first round pick in 2020, having shipped it to Oakland in the Khalil Mack trade. But Ryan Pace is one of the most aggressive GMs in the NFL, and has proven he will make a deal to secure the player he wants, no matter the cost.

The Chargers are another team that could be in the quarterback market. Philip Rivers is still an effective player, but he’s 37 years old and a free agent at the end of the season. Doubling down on an aging quarterback may not be in the cards for LA, which has two young defensive superstars (Joey Bosa and Derwin James) that they’ll need to pay. Newton’s cap hit for 2020 is a reasonable $18.6 million.

The Titans have a solid roster and seem like they’re perpetually a good QB away from breaking out of the 8-8 doldrums. Ryan Tannehill has played well in relief of the benched Marcus Mariota, but he is a free agent in 2020.

Joe Flacco doesn’t seem like the answer in Denver, and second-round pick Drew Lock has yet to see the field in 2019. GM John Elway has a notable penchant for tall quarterbacks, and Newton is 6’5″.

Tampa Bay has explosive playmakers and a good coach in Bruce Arians. Newton could be a fit should they decide Jameis Winston isn’t the answer. (Arrested Development narrator voice: he is not.)

Any trade would likely hinge on Newton’s health, which is far from a guarantee. He is considering surgery with the goal of being healthy by March, and teams will understandably be wary of sacrificing assets for an oft-injured quarterback.

But good QB play is elusive in the NFL, and teams make huge moves every year in an attempt to secure the position. There’s no denying Newton has elite upside – and it wouldn’t be shocking if Carolina gets some calls.