This. I’d put money on the Panthers FO trying to pump up his trade value pre draft while quietly shopping him. It’s a win, win for them. When teams call them inquiring about Newton’s availability they get to say “You want our starting QB? Well we never thought about it (wink, wink) but we want at least a second rounder and player for him”. And if no trade deal is reached before/during the draft they can say to Newton “See we believe in you. We were never going to trade you. Teams wanted you but we told them no”.