Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 3/25:

Mar 24, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris (12) dribbles the basketball against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to another year of the DFS Army NBA Full Court Press! Members had a ton of success using the Full Court Press along with various articles and tools that DFS Army provides last season, so we are glad to be back with another year of the all-inclusive article. You have to start your research somewhere, and oftentimes going game by game and breaking down every matchup and its key players is the first step in our process. My name is Mike aka @MadnessDFS on Twitter, make sure to give me a follow as I’ll occasionally make updates to the advice in the article. But, you’ll mostly find me in our VIP coaching forums where I provide detailed lineup maneuvers and answer all lineup questions. With that said, let’s get it started!

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Before I get started, I need to shoutout a few huge VIP Member wins – “Phamacist” took 1st place in the $300k Fadeway contest which netted him $100k while “da_banditz” grabbed 1st place on FanDuel as well winning $10k- congrats guys!

Brooklyn Nets @ Miami Heat

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: Mia -5.5

We’ll kick this slate off with the Nets, the price tag on Mikal Bridges has come way down and we’ve seen the upside he can provide on this Nets team. I don’t love the matchup, but the price is hard for me to ignore on a guy that has a 28+% usage rate. Spencer Dinwiddie bounced back nicely last time out but is in a similar boat as Bridges where I don’t love the matchup and his price tag isn’t as appealing. The minutes for Nicolas Claxton have been more consistent lately and will be a fine GPP option here in a tougher matchup. Cam Johnson had a rough go of it last time out but should continue to play big minutes and makes sense in all formats if you land on him to fill out your roster. We can throw guys like Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith in that same boat as well as filler pieces to round out the Nets. From the Heat, Jimmy Butler has been much more consistent as of late and flashed a ceiling last time out against the Knicks. I would have no issue going right back to him in this one at his price tag. Bam Adebayo came back down to Earth last time out but had at least 40 DraftKings points in each of his three prior games. Tyler Herro is a bit too volatile for me to love in cash games but makes plenty of sense in tournaments. Then the rest of this team is more secondary/GPP options than anything on a big slate with guys like Caleb Martin, Max Strus, and Kevin Love.

5-star play: Mikal Bridges, Jimmy Butler

4-star play: Spencer Dinwiddie, Nicolas Claxton, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Cam Johnson, Royce O’Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith, Caleb Martin, Kyle Lowry, Kevin Love

Milwaukee Bucks @ Denver Nuggets

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: Den -2.5

Starting with the Bucks, I would expect Khris Middleton back in this one on the back end of a back-to-back against a better team. He’s been in good form since re-joining the starting lineup and has that SF eligibility that has been tough to find good production out of as of late. I had Jrue Holiday as a core play last night and was on his way to a huge game before the game turned into a blowout and he played just 25 minutes. I would have no issue going right back to him in this one. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the clear top option from this team and is always a guy I like getting to in games that should remain close due to the minutes ceiling opening up. He’s at less risk of seeing minutes in the mid-20s like we saw last night. He’s a top spend-up option on the slate in a sneaky good spot, Jokic isn’t as good of a defender as a lot of people like to think. Brook Lopez will have his hands full with Jokic down low but has been one of the best centers in the league as of late, I have no problem going back to him in this one as well while Pat Connaughton and Grayson Allen are GPP options. From the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic is going to look like a top spend-up option on the slate as well. He has at least 60 FanDuel points in three of his last four games and is a guy that will look great in this spot. I don’t have any issues with Jamal Murray either, he isn’t as hot as he was a couple of weeks ago, but he’s going to play all the minutes he can handle in a fast-paced matchup. Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. are similar options at similar price tags, I would probably prefer Gordon in cash while going to Porter Jr. in GPPs due to the volatility, but that’s splitting hairs, I don’t have a problem with either of these guys. Then we can round this team out with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as a roster-filling piece, but he’s not a guy we need to prioritize by any means.

5-star play: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic

4-star play: Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr.

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Quick shoutout to VIP member “Cenzamatic” on a massive $20k win last season! Sometimes paying up for double studs works, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant brought it home for him with the help of some Stanley Johnson and Pistons value. Good work and congrats man!

Philadelphia 76ers @ Phoenix Suns

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: Phi -1.0

We’ll start with the Sixers, James Harden ended up missing their game last night yet again and has now missed three straight. We don’t have an injury report on them quite yet, but I would imagine he comes in as questionable again here, so keep an eye on our Breaking News Feed as we get closer to lock. I’ll operate under the assumption that he plays and has been in good form when out there, but if he’s out, the rest of this lineup sees a pretty nice boost but the price tags are starting to catch up with them. Due to this, guys like Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton, and Tyrese Maxey are really only in play for me if he’s ruled out. Joel Embiid is going to look great here as well in a matchup with a Suns team that is lacking rim protection with Ayton still out. Speaking of the Suns, obviously, without Ayton, there will be minutes open at that center position, so look for guys like Jock Landale and Bismack Biyombo to pick up the slack. Landale has been the more consistent producer, but I would expect they see similar minutes unless one of them gets in foul trouble against Embiid down low. Devin Booker is playing all the minutes he can handle right now and is going to look like a strong option on this slate as well if you can’t quite get up to these top-tier big men. Chris Paul had a nice game last night and is a guy I like again in this one while guys like Torrey Craig and Josh Okogie are GPP options to round out your rosters.

*** The below assumes James Harden is active ***

5-star play: Joel Embiid, Devin Booker

4-star play: James Harden, Chris Paul, Jock Landale

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, De’Anthony Melton, Bismack Biyombo, Torrey Craig, Josh Okogie

Be sure to check out our PrizePicks tool as well which provides our projection in relation to the PrizePicks line giving us max leverage to hammer home those best prop spots. Our props team has been killing it! CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT.

Utah Jazz @ Sacramento Kings

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: Sac -9.5

Starting with the Jazz, Lauri Markkanen missed their game last night while Jordan Clarkson has missed their last few games. I’ll operate under the assumption Markkanen is back while Clarkson remains out. This is a nice matchup against a fast-paced Kings team that doesn’t play a whole lot of defense, so Markkanen will look like a nice option in all formats. Talen Horton-Tucker has picked up the slack as the playmaker in this offense but has seen some inconsistent minutes due to blowout which isn’t out the question in this one. That said, I’m not a huge fan of trying to predict blowouts, so he’s going to look like a nice option here. Walker Kessler has been one of the more consistent centers since the break and makes sense in all formats here even after a down game last night in a tough matchup. Kelly Olynyk has been in great form and is a guy I like going back to again here especially if Markkanen does end up getting ruled out. Lastly, Simone Fontecchio would head back to the bench if Markkanen returns but would make sense as a secondary option if he’s out again. From the Kings, Domantas Sabonis has been in great form as of late and feels slightly too cheap in a great matchup here. De’Aaron Fox has been held down over his last few games but gets a similarly great matchup, I have no problem going right back to him in this one, particularly in GPPs. Kevin Huerter returned last night and didn’t show any signs of rust knocking down three’s left and right. He’s a solid secondary option along with these other mid-range guys such as Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray. Then we can round this team out with Malik Monk as a tournament option.

5-star play: Lauri Markkanen, Domantas Sabonis

4-star play: Talen Horton-Tucker, Walker Kessler, Kelly Olynyk, De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk

New Orleans Pelicans @ Los Angeles Clippers

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: Lac -5.0

Starting with the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram is my preferred option between him and CJ McCollum, but both guys are fine options in an elite matchup against this Clippers team that is missing one of its best defenders in Paul George. Ingram has been in elite form and is coming off of an absolutely massive game last time out. Jonas Valanciunas has at least 44 DraftKings points in four straight games and has seen his minutes trending in the right direction, he’s a nice option in all formats. Then guys like Trey Murphy and Herb Jones make sense as filler pieces to round out your rosters. Murphy comes into this one as questionable, if he’s forced to miss we should see more minutes out of guys like Naji Marshall and Larry Nance. From the Clippers, as I mentioned, Paul George is going to miss the next few weeks with a knee injury, below is how this team operates with him off of the court this season:

Kawhi and Westbrook are the big standouts as they’ll be the guy’s with the ball in their hands more often with George off of the court, both guys are going to look like great options in this one. I do like Gordon and Morris as secondary options as well as they likely see some additional shots.

5-star play: Kawhi Leonard

4-star play: Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas, Russell Westbrook

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Eric Gordon, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones

NBA Lock of the Day: Russell Westbrook (DK – $8.2k; FD – $7.9k)

We’re waiting on a few pieces of news that could sway this such as Harden and Markkanen’s status, but we know Paul George will remain out and we saw Westbrook take on more playmaking duties for the Clippers last time out. He has a 30% usage rate and 1.22 fantasy points per minute with George off of the court this season in about a 70 minutes sample size. I love the matchup against this Pelicans team and as gross as it feels, Westbrook is going to look like an awesome play on this slate. At this point in the day, I would think he makes my core, but check out our VIP Cheat Sheets as we get closer to lock for staff picks on Core plays, 8x locks of the day, and tiers notes as well!

The only thing you are missing at this point is the key to unlock the next level of your game.  Come inside and check us out!!  We have experts sharing their secrets and experience on a daily basis.  Combining that with the actual ability to ask them questions and get quick answers in return gives you a recipe for success that puts our army hats on leaderboards all over the face of DFS.

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Editor’s Note – However, if you are more interested in simply betting the games, NBA is full of crazy action.  And, our dynamic modeling over at SharpBets adjusts in real time to help identify Vegas inaccuracies you can exploit.  Follow Ryan, Anthony, and Statsational for models and coaching advice that help you build any bankroll for any sport…

Don’t be sad that the fantasy football season is over; be glad it happened in the first place. However, if you are among the many football enthusiasts who play dynasty-format fantasy football, you know the season never truly ends. So while we might be staring down the barrel of the NFL offseason, there’s plenty to be done as a dynasty manager. Between now and the beginning of training camp is when champions are made. This week, Jon and myself talk about the Elijah Moore and his fantasy value with the trade to Cleveland, DeAndre Hopkins, Miles Sanders and more.

NFL News and Notes

Elijah Moore Fantasy Outlook

In the latest news and notes from the NFL, the Cleveland Browns have acquired Elijah Moore from the New York Jets. In exchange for Moore, the Jets received the 42nd overall pick, while the Browns also received the 74th overall pick. This trade shows the Browns’ commitment to having three receivers on the field at all times to maximize the potential of their quarterback, Deshaun Watson.

Mecole Hardman

Meanwhile, the New York Jets have signed Mecole Hardman to a one-year deal worth up to $6.5 million. Hardman will add speed and versatility to the Jets’ offense, but will he be more of a role player in a stacked New York Jets WR room?

DeAndre Hopkins in Blue and Red

There are rumors swirling that DeAndre Hopkins may be headed to the New England Patriots, but many are skeptical that Bill Belichick would be willing to give up a haul for an aging veteran pass catcher. With the recent signing of Gesicki and other talented receivers on the roster, it remains to be seen if the Patriots will make a move for Hopkins. The Patriots have a lot of work to do if they want to contend next season, and it will be interesting to see how their offseason plays out.

The Miles and Adam Show

In other news, the inconsistency of Miles Sanders over his career has raised questions about the Panthers’ running game and the viability of Adam Thielen as he enters his mid-thirties. While Sanders has shown flashes of brilliance as one of the most dynamic running backs in the league over the past two seasons, his inconsistency has been a concern. Nevertheless, his addition to the Panthers could potentially make them a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, Thielen’s reliability as a target over the course of his career is noteworthy, but his age remains a concern.

Njigba to the MOOOON

Finally, Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s impressive pro day has scouts buzzing as the NFL draft approaches. Smith-Njigba is a highly-touted wide receiver out of Ohio State, and his performance at the pro day has many experts projecting him as a first-round pick. The draft is always full of surprises, but he is one player to keep an eye on as teams look to build their rosters for the upcoming season.

NFL Mock Draft 2.0

This week, we mocked the first round of the NFL in the post-free agency landscape. How did things change from our first attempt? Check out the draft board here, and listen to this week’s episode to find out why the chips fell where they did.

*Mock draft conducted on pff.com

For more on NFL free agency and the implications in dynasty format fantasy football, make sure to download this week’s episode of Dynasty Diehards.

Make sure to like, subscribe and follow us on razzball.com and @FFDynoDiehards on Twitter for the latest in dynasty fantasy football news. 

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UFC San Antonio DraftKings Picks Preview Vera Sandhagen 

UFC San Antonio DraftKings Picks Preview Vera Sandhagen 

 Favorite Fighters

• Holm $9000
• Parson $8000
• Sandhagen $8

Two Dogs Worth a Second Look

Bet365: Dog Pound Parlay 

• Vera +137
• Perez +162
• Alexander +130

+1333

UFC San Antonio DraftKings Picks Preview Vera Sandhagen 

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I am taking some big shots this week! But if you aren’t, what are you doing with your life??? Give a brother a follow and keep up with the picks in real time! @therealgc9

Marlon Vera $7600 vs. Cory Sandhagen 

The line to Impact Lean: Under 4.5 +120

This fight could propel Vera to a title fight, and he is coming in as a value at $7600 and +165 on the m/l. Vera has a great gas tank; some may argue he gets better the longer the fight goes on. TD offense for either fighter should not be a factor, as both need to show the ability to do so consistently. Finally, Vera is on a four-fight win streak and has 11 confirmed finishes in the UFC, and he is +250 to end the fight with submission/TKO/KO. That said, I like Vera to get it done here and land a finish later in the war.

While I believe in Vera, it is essential to note that he is a dog in this fight for a reason. One of those factors is his questionable striking defense. If you rewatch the Cruz fight, Cruz was tagging him nonstop, but Chito has too much chin and kept coming forward. So, can Sandhagen replicate the Edgar fight and land a hit hard enough to put Vera down finally? Probably not, but if I play 150, it is worth investing heavily in both fighters.

UFC San Antonio DraftKings Pick: Vera 7100(Core) 

UFC San Antonio Prop Betting: Vera +250 Submission/TKO/KO

UFC San Antonio DraftKings Picks Preview Vera Sandhagen 

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Holly Holm $9000 vs. Yana Santos $7200

The line to Impact Lean: Under 2.5 +220

Did someone say women’s MMA?! YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!! Not quite; I like Holly Holm in this fight. Here is why:

• Holm recently beat Aldana and Pennington Decision with substantial volume
• Can accumulate a lot of volumes and then land a finish
• Knocked out Rhonda Rousey back in the day

However, this is women’s MMA, so I would only be myself if I took a second sniff at the dog for my 150. Her recent wins over Stoliarenko and Vieira showed us she could spoil the night as a dog. So I will be investing in her, but the pick is Holm.

UFC San Antonio  DraftKings Pick: Holm $9000

UFC San Antonio Prop Betting: Under 2.5 +220

Andrea Lee $7100 vs. Maycee Barber $9100

The line to Impact Lean: Under 1.5 +145

I said I would fade Barber in my show earlier, but after looking at her on the DS, I am changing my mind. Her projection for this week is almost 80 pts, and ownership is 17%. I still think she will lose to Lee because this is women’s MMA, and Barber is a favorite who has not fought anyone. I will probably get 20-25% barber and double the ownership on Lee because I like the fight overall as one to score well and fly under the radar. Lee has scored 103. 8 and 115.5 in her last two wins showing her ability to achieve a good ceiling score. She has also demonstrated the ability to land finishes via Calvillo and A. Shevchenko.

The pick is Lee, but the fight overall may be all in. If not, it will be 80-90% of my 150.

UFC San Antonio DraftKings Pick: Lee $7100

UFC 286 Prop Betting: Lee +650 KO/TKO/DQ/Submission

Leverage Play 

Nate Landwehr $9400 vs. Austin Lingo $6800

I have been having a lot of success of the last two years, simply finding one leverage high projected player and locking them in 60-80% in 150 lineups. So my play for this week will be Nate Landwehr, who is priced up but projected the fourth highest on the card with 30% ownership, to other high-launched fighters who are 45% or higher projected ownership.

Nate “The Train” has two recent wins Over Onama (Decision), and Kelin (submission) scored 104 and 91 on DraftKings, showing his ability to achieve well in a finish or a decision. He could get TD and rack up control time or finish the fight early. Either way, Nate is a high-priced fighter I will significantly invest in this weekend.

UFC San Antonio DraftKings Pick: Landwehr $9400 (60-80%) 

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UFC San Antonio DraftKings Picks Preview Vera Sandhagen 

Check out my Full Card Breakdown!

Reference:

Cheat Sheets.

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Happy hunting, everyone, and thank you for reading!!!

Thanks for hanging in, and feel free to reach out with any questions!

Talk to me! I am in the discord 24/7 and value connecting with people.

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The EDGE class has some interesting prospects. A few five-star phenoms. A few massively productive players. Even a few physical freaks that could be unrealized superstars. So where does a guy like Derick Hall fit in? He wasn’t a phenom, and he has produced, but not at a crazy level. He isn’t a physically freakish athlete, but he definitely isn’t a slouch. Hall is a well-rounded EDGE, and a team is going to get an NFL talent on the second day of the draft. 

Profile

• College: Auburn
• Height: 6’3″
• Weight: 254 lbs. 
• Age: 22 yrs. (March 19, 2001)
• Year: Senior
• Hands: 10″
• Arms: 34.5″
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.55
• Vertical Jump: 33.5″
• Broad Jump: 10’7″
• Draft Projection: Second Day

College Career

Hall was a star athlete at Gulfport High School in Mississippi, earning all-state honors in football, starting on the basketball squad, and also starring on the track team. He was a state finalist in the 200-meter dash. As a four-star, Hall received offers from Florida, Florida State, Ole Miss, and Arkansas amongst his 15 offers. After several visits, Hall decided to attend Auburn University. 

Hall started games in all four seasons but made a big impact in his junior season. He had 52 tackles and nine sacks in 2021, playing as a linebacker/EDGE player. Hall earned second-team All-SEC after the season and returned for his senior season. 

In 2022, Hall led the Tigers with 12 tackles for a loss and seven sacks, adding 60 tackles, an interception, and forced two fumbles. His play led to first-team All-SEC accolades. 

Strengths

The Blend of Power and Speed

Hall has an enticing blend of speed and power. His hands are incredibly powerful, and his calling card will be his ability to convert speed to power. Hall can create some bend but isn’t a guy who will make that a strength. He’s got phenomenal athletic ability and was used in many ways while at Auburn. 

The first several sacks in this video showcase the speed, as Hall makes it by the tackle with ease. Then I wanted to include several that show power, hands, and different ways that he wins. Speed is what will set up most of his pass-rushing snaps. Then he can throw in the power and hands or counters as they develop.

Run Defense

When it comes to stopping the run, Hall is good in this area as well. If he is engaged, he recognizes a run developing and can peel off to make a stop. He’s got tremendous reach and can corral a passing ball carrier in a massive area. 

These clips showcase a few ways he assists in run defense and how Hall disengages from his pass rush to help. He’s got good instincts and awareness to realize what is developing and then seems to unlock from linemen easily to peel into the lane and stop a ball carrier. I came away impressed with his run defense.

Pass Rushing Prowess

Hall is developing into his role as a pass rusher, and he already has solid groundwork. He can set the edge, and his hands make it tough for tight ends to block him. Speed to power is how he creates his advantage, and the rest of his game is coming along. 

Weaknesses

Needs to Develop as Pass Rusher

The fact that his game is coming along is also a weakness. What if this is as good as Hall gets? If he is at his ceiling, he will not be as valuable. He can create mismatches with speed and a wallop of power, but he’s going to need more counters and combinations. 

Lack of Bend

As I mentioned above, the inability to create bend consistently will hinder what he can do. Hall will need to couple that speed with a bend. His hips are tight, but a lack of flexibility is evident on his pass-rushing reps. 

The Wrap Up

Teams searching for a pass rusher will get a shot to take Hall on the second day of the draft likely. I have seen him mocked late in round one, but I believe day two is more likely. Hall has potential – with speed, power, and athletic ability, coupled with his size, he could be a phenomenal EDGE rusher. 

For IDP purposes, Hall is not likely to make much of a dent in scoring his first year but could develop into a decent option. He’s likely going to be an outside linebacker and has the ability to rake in some tackles, but I am not sure he ever breaks the ten-sack threshold consistently. I am targeting him later in the second round or third round of IDP rookie drafts. 

The NFL Draft has room for EDGE rushers beyond the first two or three to make an impact; that’s where Hall falls in. He’s got the potential to be a star in the NFL. I could see him having 60 tackles a year with a few turnovers forced and in the eight to ten sack range. Hopefully, his ceiling is higher, and it will depend on development.

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Veteran quarterback Cam Newton was back in the news Tuesday after throwing more than 30 passes in front of NFL scouts at Auburn’s pro day.

It worked not just as an opportunity to help boost the draft stock of his alma mater’s receivers, but also to show that he still had something to contribute at the NFL level.

Can Cam Newton still start in the NFL? pic.twitter.com/y3JFymR3Pe

— PFF (@PFF) March 21, 2023

While Netwon declined to speak to the media in Auburn, he made it clear how he felt beforehand: “Ain’t 32 motherf***ers better than me,” Newton said in a video posted to Twitter.

Which begs the question: Are there 32 quarterbacks better than Cam Newton in the NFL right now?

The former No. 1 overall pick didn’t play a single snap in 2022. He wasn’t exactly a full-time starter in 2021, either, as he was signed off the street to rejoin the Carolina Panthers after Sam Darnold suffered a shoulder injury.

He ultimately went 0-5 during his second stint as the Panthers’ starter, grading below 50.0 in three of those games and going 66-of-122 for 676 yards, three scores and five interceptions. 

CLICK HERE TO SEE CAM NEWTON’S CAREER IN PREMIUM STATS

Newton’s last full season as a starter was with the New England Patriots in 2020, and he mostly struggled, throwing for 2,657 yards with just 8 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. In fact, three of his eight touchdown passes that season came in the season finale against the Jets, long after both teams had been eliminated from postseason contention.

His 67.8 passing grade in 2020 ranked 26th out of 38 quarterbacks who played at least 20% of their team’s offensive snaps. That number would’ve ranked him 24th in 2022 among 41 quarterbacks under the same qualifier, almost identical to Matthew Stafford, who was dealing with an elbow injury all season.

As for his eight touchdown passes, only Kenny Pickett threw fewer (seven) in 2022 than Newton in 2020 among qualifying passers, and Pickett was just a rookie still figuring things out in the NFL — not in his 10th NFL season like Newton was at the time.

However, the 2015 NFL MVP was always better known for his running ability. Not only did he have 4.5 speed, but he was also 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, making him difficult to bring down even if a defender did manage to grab hold of him. In 2020, Newton ranked third among quarterbacks in rushing yards (592) while leading his position group with 12 rushing scores. 

Unfortunately, his 2021 season was poor by just about every standard, albeit on a much smaller sample size. His overall PFF grade finished at 53.3, which would have ranked ahead of only Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Glennon had he played enough snaps to qualify, and only Glennon had a lower passing grade than Newton’s 46.5. Newton’s 73.8 rushing grade was the second highest of his career, though — even better than his MVP season.

Considering he turns 34 in May and his best years are most likely behind him, Newton would likely be a big-name backup should he sign with an NFL team.

Two possible fits are the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens. Washington would not only provide an element of familiarity for Newton, as head coach Ron Rivera coached him for the majority of his time in Carolina, but they may have the largest hole at the quarterback position, as they are currently planning to start the 2023 season with 2022 fifth-rounder Sam Howell.

Unless the Commanders make another move at the position prior to the start of the season, such as trading up into the top five of the 2023 NFL Draft or adding another veteran via trade or free agency, Newton could be an option should Howell struggle.

Baltimore is also an intriguing option if they are unable to retain 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson. The Ravens favor a system that utilizes a mobile quarterback, as both Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley are excellent ball carriers. Should Jackson move on, Newton’s skill set could land him at least a backup job to Huntley.

So, are there 32 NFL quarterbacks better than Cam Newton in 2023? Yeah, probably. But given Newton’s track record and unique abilities, he would be an upgrade over most teams’ backups.