The Patriots have signed Cam Newton to compete with Stidham and Brian Hoyer for the starting quarterback job, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
The 2015 NFL MVP profiles as the favorite in his competition against a 2019 fourth-round pick and a veteran journeyman, but the door could open for Stidham if Newton isn't sharp during training camp. Given that he's coming back from major foot surgery and also has a troubling history of shoulder injuries, there's no guarantee the 31-year-old Newton will look like the prime version of himself. The Patriots' patient approach to their post-Tom-Brady quarterback situation might be interpreted as a sign of confidence in Stidham, who was sharp last preseason but only saw mop-up duty (four pass attempts, one pick-six) once the games counted.