Cam Newton odds: Rams gain cap space Tuesday, which could be used on former MVP

As of Monday, the Los Angeles Rams have the smallest amount of salary cap space in the NFL with just $569,169 to spend, according to overthecap.com. However, on Tuesday the Rams will get an additional $5.5 million in space because of the release of former All-Pro running back Todd Gurley. That actually happened in March but technically Gurley, who has landed with the Atlanta Falcons, was a post-June 1 cut, which matters for salary reasons. That money officially will become available on Tuesday for L.A.

Could the Rams use most of that on quarterback Cam Newton? It seems unfathomable that Coach Sean McVay would go into the season with John Walford as the backup to Jared Goff. Walford was undrafted out of Wake Forest and has not taken a regular-season snap. Well, regular season in the NFL. He did play for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football. When that league went belly up, the Rams signed him.

Newton, 31, has been a free agent since the Panthers released him March 24. ESPN's Louis Riddick believes the Rams would be an ideal fit for the ex-NFL MVP: "Sean McVay and Cam Newton I think would be a perfect fit theoretically and philosophically. Again, run-centric offense. Everything runs through the running back. Play-action passes, movement passes, boots, roll-outs. I mean, Sean would have an absolute field day with that," he said last month. Compelling case.  

New England remains the favorite to sign Newton because he could start there in theory. The Pats did reach out when Newton was released but obviously nothing came of that at the time.

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The thinking is that any team which wants to sign Newton will need to give him a physical first to ensure he's healthy, and that can't happen yet in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic with NFL facilities shuttered. Newton missed the final 14 games last year with a Lisfranc injury and also has had shoulder surgery.

The Rams do remain longer shots to sign Newton, though, because they first have to extend Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey. 

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Which team will Cam Newton be on Week 1 of the 2020 season?

• Patriots +350
• Redskins +450
• Steelers +600
• Broncos +700
• Cardinals +900
• Ravens +1100
• Jaguars +1200
• Rams +1500
• Bills +1800