This is an amazing opportunity for these receivers to show that they can truly hang with NFL caliber players. As huge as college football has become, it’s still no comparison to the NFL. Football analysts frequently point to the difference in speed and power between the college game and the pros. No matter how talented top prospects are, NFL teams will always question whether they are really ready for the next level. Seeing them on the field with a former MVP, who’s played in the Super Bowl, will help determine if these athletes are prepared for what comes next.

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And let’s be honest: Cam isn’t doing this just because he wants to help these kids show out. This is also about showcasing that his career is not over. He re-signed with the Carolina Panthers for the second half of the 2021 season, but spent the bulk of it splitting the starting job with P.J. Walker. The Panthers lost the five games in which Newton was the starting quarterback. While this wasn’t all on Cam, it doesn’t help fight the perception that he’s done. It also doesn’t help that he didn’t play a single snap during the 2022-23 NFL season.

If he can show that he’s still got something left, perhaps one more team will take a chance on the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner. I’ve never been one for telling athletes when they should retire. Unless they’re doing serious physical harm to themselves, they should enjoy their sport as long as they want. But at this point in his career, Cam’s best contribution to an NFL team comes off the field as a possible mentor for players like Tua Tagovailoa or Josh Allen.