Feb
2
2011
No player burst onto the college football scene this year quite like Auburn Quarterback Cameron Newton. His name appeared in the media for all the right and wrong reasons during the season. In leading his Tigers to their first National Championship victory since 1957, Newton was named a First Team All-American and won the Heisman trophy, all despite being a subject of a serious NCAA investigation. Days after the title game, he chose to give up his eligibility and enter the 2011 NFL Draft.
The demand for a franchise Quarterback has never been greater in the NFL. Still, with the size of the investment teams must make these days when picking high in the draft, it’s important that they don’t get it wrong. The interview process may be as important for Cameron Newton as his actual workouts. Quarterback coaches and Offensive Coordinators may come to the conclusion that his flaws are all very coachable. On the other hand, some franchises will not have the patience to take eight to sixteen games to let him sit and learn.
He surely can’t be expected to be a serious running threat in the NFL; however, he has the feet to escape the pocket and pick up first downs a la Aaron Rodgers or Josh Freeman. He’ll be groomed as a pocket passer and it will take some patience from the team that drafts him. Despite a sizeable learning curve, Newton possesses all the tools to be a top-notch pro Quarterback in the mold of a young Donovan McNabb or Ben Roethlisberger.
Without a clear-cut top Quarterback in this class, Cameron Newton will be battling to be the top player selected at his position. He’s raw, inexperienced, and still a bit of a mystery character-wise; however, he is among the draft’s most naturally gifted players and perhaps one of the greatest physical specimens to ever play the position. Newton’s tremendous upside will entice Quarterback-needy teams early come April.
Pros
+ Excellent size at roughly 6’5 240; sees the field well
+ Very strong arm
+ Displays exceptional escapability
+ Throws with terrific velocity and touch
+ Tremendous athlete who is a threat to take off at any time
+ Throws well on the move
+ Great leader on the field
+ Flashes elite accuracy though inconsistency in mechanics is apparent
+ Throws a very pretty deep ball
+ Shows vision and elusiveness in the open field
+ Tough and powerful; won’t go down without a fight
+ Incredibly productive; Heisman Trophy winner
+ Very competitive and passionate
+ No injury history
+ Success came in the face of great adversity during the season
Cons
- Lacks refined footwork; too often throws flat-footed or off his back foot
- Comes from a spread-option scheme that kept reads very simple
- Only one year of starting experience
- Questionable Intelligence; could take some time to digest an NFL playbook
- Accuracy and focus can be inconsistent
- Occasionally holds the ball too long
- Will have to answer serious questions about maturity and his past
- Throwing mechanics can be improved
- Raw pocket awareness; was encouraged to use his feet a lot at Auburn
- Projects as a guy that may take time to develop as a pocket passer
- Running ability will be largely negated at the next level
Why the Panthers will select Cameron Newton First Overall
Sometimes great teams can find a way to get by with average play at the Quarterback position, but most acknowledge that a strong QB is the foundation of any perennial-playoff team. The Panthers greatest struggles a year ago stemmed from the position and Ron Rivera realizes he may not want to put all his team’s marbles in Jimmy Clausen’s basket. The team already had committed itself to a new Quarterback in Andrew Luck before he decided to go back to school, so it’s clear they see it possible to upgrade the position. Cameron Newton is this draft’s top signal-caller. He possesses elite physical tools, an impeccable college track record, and may be the charismatic face of the franchise needed to stir up excitement in Carolina. Risk factor is huge when considering Newton’s checkered past and lack of polish, but no player in this draft class offers higher reward potential for this barren offense.
Ryan Lownes
Ryan is currently an undergraduate student at Ohio University pursuing a degree in Sport Management. He has been attending the NFL Draft in New York City since 2005 and has aspirations of a career in scouting. He is currently a draft writer and analyst on the Draft Breakdown team, posting his latest rankings, mock drafts, scouting reports, and more. Be sure to follow Ryan on twitter for year-round NFL Draft analysis.
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Newton will NEVER happen in Carolina. Owner Jerry Richardson places a PREMIUM on character, and by all accounts that is an issue with the Newton family.
Additionally your notion that the panthers need an upgrade at just about every position is absurd. They had 3 pro bowlers this years. LG, C, and MLB, are all strengths. Actually, when healthy their OL has a whole is one of the best in the NFC. They were not healthy this year. Pair that with the 1-2 punch of Deangelo (also not healthy this year), and J-Stew, you have a formidable offense. Panthers issues the last few years was the meddling, conservative, stubborn head coach. Panthers have the talent to open it up with some offensive creativity. Biggest problem was and will be QB play. That determines everything.
“Biggest problem was and will be QB play” – “Pair that with the 1-2 punch of Deangelo (also not healthy this year), and J-Stew, you have a formidable offense” …. I don’t think you can try to say their biggest problem is and will be the QB position then claim to have a formidable offense. They were 13th in the league running the ball, yet dead last in passing which dragged them down to dead last in the NFL in total offense. They have some pieces there, as you mentioned on the OL and RB, but the main thing holding the Carolina Panthers back from winning this past year & next year (if they choose not to address it.)
I made the comment about the team being able to upgrade anywhere as it relates to the 1st Overall pick. You listed the team strengths, but consider the weaknesses at QB, DT, WR, TE, CB, DE, OLB, and RG. All the players I listed above in my article fill big voids for Carolina. In fact, the Top 10 players on my current board all would fill needs for your Panthers. So their team needs really can’t help you narrow down the prospects Carolina could pick at #1. There isn’t a #1 Overall caliber MLB or RB out there, so there isn’t anyone you can simply write-off.
Additionally, I think the Panthers will face the task of identifying Cameron Newton’s actual character concerns. Personally, it looks to me like Cecil Newton is the guy with all the red flags. If Cam continues to let his Dad pull the strings, however, it may convince the league of his lack of maturity. Still, you sit the guy down in a room one-on-one and get a feel for him as a person. A lot of people have found the guy to have a charming personality with a passion for the game. I think you need to sit him down and get a feel for how coachable the guy is and what he’s got right now in terms of a football IQ. I expect we’ll hear some feedback from coaches/scouts on Newton’s character & personality by March or so.
Out of this group, I personally think Nick Fairley has the most concerning character. He’ll still likely be drafted Top 5, but at 1st Overall his professionalism and intelligence has to be a big concern. I really just have a hard time envisioning him convince the Panthers (with words) that he’s the right pick for them at #1. Will probably come down to Bowers and Newton (assuming Cam makes the right moves from now to April.)
So you don’t want to post my previous comment? Why would the Panthers draft another qb project??? You forget that Clausen was Hurney’s call, Hurney is still GM… despite the horrible season they will try to work with Clausen and bring in a veteran qb. Quit sucking off Newton, he will be lucky to be drafted in the top 15.
The panthers will try to trade the pick, if they can’t they will draft Fairley. Yes there are concerns, but Rivera is a disciplinarian he will mold Nick into a beast. If the panthers go after a qb, it will be a cheap veteran most likely Billy Volek.
Who in the world would consider trading up to this 1st Pick? There is absolutely no trade market for the pick. If the Panthers wanted to get rid of it the only way that MIGHT work would be letting the 10 minute clock run out. Also, what project QB do the Panthers have? 2010 6th Rounder Tony Pike? Jimmy Clausen was a guy that came to the league from a pro-style offense with good throwing mechanics, if he was a guy that had the talent to play in the league he should be able to fit in relatively early. I think he still has the talent, but I don’t know that he the mental makeup to lead a team and win games in the NFL. To consider Carolina’s taking a QB with the 1st pick, you have to acknowledge it’s not like Clausen was any kind of a big investment, earning roughly $750,000 a year. They were already committed to leaving Clausen if Andrew Luck had declared.
As soon as Carolina goes after that cheap veteran I’ll be changing my tune. The whole point of writing the article was because the pick is wide open at this point. With QB being the teams obvious achilles heel, the position is likely to be the team’s first priority. As it stands right now, it’s the biggest question mark for the Panthers. I don’t see them going after Cam if they go out and sign a QB. If I were that stubborn I don’t think I’d have chosen to include and profile four different players.
Also, I’m fine with people grading Newton outside the Top 15-20, I can see why. Still, I’m pretty sure at this point that he’ll be the first QB drafted, likely among the draft’s Top 5 picks. If Carolina doesn’t take him, Buffalo and Arizona also look like great landing spots for him. Personally, I think the character issues are just a little overblown by fans and his upside exceeds perhaps any other player in this draft class. He’s got a ways to go, though, before I feel comfortable putting him on the field. Could really thrive if given 8-16 games with the clipboard.
The way Richardson treats brees and manning imagine what he would do to Newton haha!