• JamesK683
• April 28, 2011
• Current Events / Sports

Despite conflict between the NFL Player’s Association and the owners, the 2011 NFL Draft will begin on April 28^th. Barring a trade, the Carolina Panthers will pick  first. Who are they expected to pick? Despite using their first pick  on a quarterback last year, many believe they will choose Auburn quarterback Cam Newton. This is a very risky move.

Upon first glance, Newton appears to have everything a team could hope for. At 6’5”, 248 pounds and with great athleticism, he is a substantial physical force. Add to that the fact that he led the Auburn Tigers to win the BCS National Championship last year and that he led his previous school, Blinn College, to win the NJCAA championship, and Newton seems like a slam dunk to be a star in the NFL. However, many in his mold have failed to live up to their hype in the past.

Kordell Stewart was one such player. In his playing days at the University of Colorado, Stewart led the team to a 11-1 record in 1994 along with 2 bowl wins during his tenure. Known as a versatile quarterback with a very strong arm, Stewart had glimpses of success. His best season was in 2001, when he led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 13-3 regular season record and the AFC Championship game. However, prior to and following that season, Stewart had a mediocre career in which he was an on-and-off starter, often being replaced by mediocre backups, such as Tommy Maddox and Rex Grossman. Despite having all the physical tools a coach could want in a quarterback, he did not live up to his potential.

Cam Newton also fits the mold of Vince Young. As a starting quarterback in college, Young led the Texas Longhorns to a record of 30-2 during his tenure, winning 93.8 percent of the games he started. This is the sixth best winning percentage by a starting quarterback in NCAA Division 1 history (now FBS). He was the first player in NCAA history to rush for over 1,000 yards and pass for over 3,000 yards in the same season. Having a similar build and skill set as Newton, he appeared to be a lock to be a great NFL quarterback and had some success early on. However, over the past few years, a combination of off the field issues, injuries, and poor performance have led to him being another Kordell Stewart, with him playing on-and-off and often being replaced by backups with mediocre skills.

Then there was Jamarcus Russell. Russell, at 6’6”, 285 pounds, appeared to be an indomitable force as quarterback. The size and talent that fans witnessed in his college days seemed destined for greatness in the NFL. At LSU, he finished 21-4 as a starter and was the MVP of the 2007 Sugar Bowl. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the first pick in the NFL draft several months later. However, he never even had the glimpses of success that Kordell Stewart and Vince Young had. He was eventually benched for his lackluster play and then released by the Raiders. He has been listed by some as one of and even the overall biggest bust in NFL Draft history.

So, who could the Panthers choose instead of Newton? If they are looking to go with a quarterback, there is Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert fits the mold of quarterback that has withstood the test of time. Despite claims that quarterbacks such as Michael Vick and Vince Young would change the position forever, the prototypical style of quarterback has held it’s reign. This is not to say that non-prototypical quarterbacks have not had an impact, as fans saw last season with Vick, but they have not taken over, as many predicted, and many have been busts. However, men like Gabbert have been those who have had the most success.

Gabbert is 6’4”, 234 pounds, and is of a similar mold to current successful quarterbacks, such as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Ben Roethlisberger. On Pro Day, Gabbert completed 47 of 50 passes, 2 of which were dropped by the receiver. He is said to have an edge over Newton in the mental aspect of the game. History shows that Gabbert is the better bet as quarterback for the Panthers.If the Panthers decide to shy away from a quarterback with the first pick, there are plenty of other excellent prospects out there. Marcell Dareus, a defensive end from Alabama, is a solid prospect to consider. If they haven’t given up on Jimmy Clausen, the Panthers could also go with wide receiver A.J. Green out of Georgia to help him out. There are plenty of high-quality prospects out there, so Newton does not have to be the pick.