It seems the rumors of a big new deal for Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton are, in fact, true.
According to a report from ESPN730, the Panthers and Newton are closing in on a new contract that will keep the big young signal-caller in Carolina blue for many more seasons to come.
"BREAKING:Cam Newton and the @Panthers are close to agreeing on a long term deal according to two league sources.Likely to run through 2020."
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirmed the report shortly thereafter.
"Sources: The Cam Newton mega-extension being finalized with the #Panthers right now is expected to be 5 years, more than $100M."
With talented, if still unproven as faces of the franchise, quarterbacks like Ryan Tannehill, Colin Kaepernick and Andy Dalton all getting new deals within the past year, it was only a matter of time before Dave Gettleman and the Panthers reached a new agreement with Newton.
The former first-overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft seemingly took a major step forward in his development this past season, showing a heightened level of maturity both on and off the field.
He helped guide the upstart Panthers to an unexpected postseason berth and Wild Card playoff victory over the decimated Arizona Cardinals in 2014, tossing 262 regular season completions for 3,127 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 14 games. He also added 103 rushing attempts for 539 yards and five touchdowns. Most importantly, he looked more in control of himself and the offense while doing so.
Darin Gantt of ProFootballTalk.com is also reporting that the deal is expected to pay Newton an average of $20 million per season - value which is very much in line with the inflated deals handed to Tannehill, Kaepernick and Dalton - though, of course, the guaranteed money will reveal just how committed the Panthers actually are to their still-maturing quarterback.
With Seattle and Russell Wilson still at odds and seemingly no movement between Andrew Luck and Indianapolis, Newton marks the first major move in the slightly more established franchise quarterback market.