Cam Newton, Jameis Winston makes sense for Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars should placing a few calls. Jacksonville moved on from quarterback Nick Foles last week, trading the veteran quarterback to the Chicago Bears. Now, the team is without Foles’ replacement on the roster yet. As a result general manager Dave Caldwell should be thinking about Jameis Winston and Cam Newton.

Winston and Cam Newton remain on the open market. The former was not re-signed after his rookie deal, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers upgrading to Tom Brady. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers released Newton earlier in the week after trying to trade him. Newton missed the final 14 games of last season after undergoing foot surgery.

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Now, with both looking for homes, Caldwell should seriously consider both. Each could likely be had with a one-year deal. Newton is trying to prove he’s healthy and worth a long-term investment come 2021. Meanwhile, Winston hopes to show he isn’t always going to lead the league in turnovers.

For Jacksonville, the better play could be Winston. The former No. 1 overall pick threw for 5,000 yards last season and although the 30 interceptions are horrific, he’s only 26 years old. Perhaps offensive coordinator Jay Gruden can get the best from Winston, after working with — and amplifying the talents of — Kirk Cousins and Andy Dalton.

Additionally, Winston is great insurance for Gardner Minshew. While the second-year quarterback out of Washington State will be given the chance to start, he’s also an unknown quantity. Will Minshew build off a season where he threw 21 touchdowns against six interceptions, or does he get exposed with film on him?

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However, Newton offers a different type of insurance.

The Jaguars can allow Newton to be a caddy for Minshew, or simply let them compete in training camp and see who wins. If Minshew succeeds, Newton becomes one of the best backups in the league who could, if needed, step into the starting role. If the 2015 MVP wins from the outset, he immediately elevates Jacksonville and provides it with a much-needed spark.

Regardless, Jacksonville would be wise to add talent in the quarterback room, using most of its remaining $20 million in cap space. While the solution under center may prove to be Minshew, providing competition and a sound backup plan is something worth considering in Duval, where the expectations are low and the fan interest is even lower.