NFL Draft 2011: Who Should the Panthers Take No. 1 Overall?

The recent labor struggles have brought about a new scenario for tonight's NFL Draft: with the Panthers going on the clock tonight, the No. 1 overall pick is still up in the air. In recent years, the team choosing first have already reached a tentative deal with their choice.

So who will the Panthers pick first? 

Well here's what we know right now: according to ESPN's Sal Paolantonio, team sources say that it is now down to four players: Auburn QB Cam Newton, Alabama DT Marcell Dareus, Georgia WR A.J. Green and LSU CB Patrick Peterson. 

All four are elite prospects from the best conference in the college football, but which one should go first?

Let's break down all four:

Georgia WR A.J. Green

A.J. Green in action

Past NFL Drafts state "Thou shall not draft a receiver in the top 10, let alone first overall," but A.J. Green seems like the real deal.

He has the height, hands and route running that you want in an elite receiving prospect and brings little to no baggage (outside of a questionable NCAA violation following his sophomore year). He's met the high expectations thrust upon him out of high school, all while performing in the SEC.

Some believe that he is the best receiving prospect since Lions WR Calvin Johnson, who has been an exception to the top-10 rule himself.

But should he go No. 1 overall?

The Panthers tried to address this in the second and third round of last year's draft and one of them rarely even saw the field. They certainly don't possess an elite receiving corp, but is it really their most glaring need? 

LSU CB Patrick Peterson

The many abilities of Patrick Peterson

Patrick Peterson is to the cornerback class what AJ Green is to the receiving class.

He has the measurables that are glorified by draft analysts, he was a top prospect coming into LSU and became the shutdown corner in college football's top conference. His performance last season earned him the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the nation's top defensive player.

What also intrigues me about Peterson is his versatility. When he wasn't hounding receivers, he was showing off his electrifying return skills. His size could also make him an option at safety, if necessary.

But again begs the question: is he addressing a need?

It seems meaningless to point out out the strengths of the worst team in the league, but Carolina seems OK at linebacker (which rules out Von Miller) and in the secondary. But Peterson seems to be the "can't miss prospect" of this year's Draft.

Alabama DT Marcell Dareus

Marcell Dareus' Pick Six

When looking for an elite defensive tackle prospect, you want a big, but quick guy who can be a run-stopping force in the middle. 

What you'll find is Marcell Dareus, who possess all of this and then some.

While Dareus played nose tackle in Alabama's 3-4 defense, he also has experience at defensive end, making him a viable pass rusher as well. He has played on the biggest stage and was MVP of the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.

He has had some issues off the field, but nothing to prevent a top draft selection.

I won't even bore you with a question, because it's clear that defensive tackle is a huge weakness. They currently have a roster full of backups who offer little in the way of long-term sustainability. 

Dareus would almost certainly fill a gaping hole in the Panthers' defensive line.

Auburn QB Cam Newton

Cam Newton at his finest

Every draft has the anomaly—the quarterback with "boom" and "bust" equally stamped all over him. He's 2010's Tim Tebow, 2009's Mark Sanchez and 2006's Vince Young all rolled into one polarizing, Heisman Trophy winning prospect. 

We know about his successes, and we obsess over his faults (let's not forget this one). There's no need to regurgitate what we've been force-fed since late last year. 

It is widely believed that the Panthers will ultimately select him—but should they?

Well, it depends on two things: 

1) Do the Panthers acknowledge that Jimmy Clausen is not the future of the franchise? And if not, 2) Does Cam's talent overshadow his excess baggage? 

Clausen stumbled into an unfavorable situation and a coach who did not want to start him, and did nothing to convince fans and staff that he was the right choice. But do you give up on him after one season?

And is Cam Newton worth the headache? Besides Keyshawn Johnson, Carolina isn't big on bringing in players with character issues. 

Is a change in philosophy needed to turn around the franchise?

With the First Pick, the Carolina Panthers Select...

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Quarterback Sam Bradford from the Oklahoma Sooners holds up a St. Louis Rams jersey after the Rams selected Bradford numer 1 overall during the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 22, 2010 in New York

So it ultimately boils down to priority; the dilemma of need versus best player available. Green and Peterson are, in my opinion, the best players available, but Dareus and Newton address needs.

The beauty and the trouble of the draft is that nothing is for certain. A good choice can lead to Super Bowl rings, while a bad choice can set franchises back even further (see 2002-2005 Detroit Lions). 

This is the exact reason that teams take quarterbacks so high. If it's not a strength of your team, it's a weakness because their worth can be invaluable to a team.

Like it or not, with the first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers select QB Cam Newton from Auburn.

My Pick

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 27: Pro Football Hall of Fame member Shannon Sharpe discusses the NFL Draft at the Bud Light 'Best Round Ever' Pre-Draft Party on April 27, 2011 in New York City. Bud Light, the new official beer of the NFL, offered fans $10 million

If I were GM of the Panthers, I'd trade the pick for various reasons.

A.J. Green and Patrick Peterson are my favorites in this year's draft, but I don't think it's wise for the league's worst team to ignore their biggest needs. To me, it's like buying an iPad instead of paying rent. 

So this leaves Dareus and Newton. Again, both are fine players, but I'd pass on both.

It would be nice to clog up the middle for Michael Turner and other opposing running backs, but it won't translate into any more points on offense.

So the answer is Cam Newton, right? Wrong to my front office.

Florida is one of my favorite college football teams, so I'm fully aware of how many issues this guy has. Florida is one of my favorite college football teams, so I'd like to keep the rest of my favorite teams free of crimes and suspensions. 

Let's also not overlook the role that Andrew Luck plays in all of this. Panther fans hopes were sky high after watching Luck destroy a good Virginia Tech (my other favorite team) defense in the Orange Bowl. So naturally his decision to stay in school brought those hopes to a crashing halt. With him out of the picture, Cam Newton seems like the best of a bad situation.

But my biggest reason is the lack of a second-round pick. The Panthers haven't had both their first and second round picks since 2007. This may not be a big deal for some teams, but for a team that doesn't dive into the free agent market, it hurts in them long-term.

But of course, this is the pick from a fan's perspective. With less than 12 hours to go, there's nothing left to do but sit back and enjoy the annual puzzle that is the NFL Draft.