2011 NFL Draft: Is Cam Newton Destined to Be an NFL Bust?
The 2011 NFL draft is coming up, and we're taking a look at Cam Newton, who will play in tonight's national championship game against Oregon.
Newton is eligible to declare for the draft and there are a lot of questions surrounding him—many are wondering what his ceiling is at the next level. Inside, we'll give you five reasons why he will be a star at the next level and five why he might be a bust, then make a conclusion.
What do you think about Newton's pro prospects? Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments.
No. 5 Star: Accuracy
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Once Cam Newton has gotten back to pass, he's done it with extreme accuracy.
Newton will carve you to pieces if you give him time back there to set his feet and throw it all around the field. It's impressive what he can do, and if he gets time, he'll make crisp, accurate throws, something that you don't always see from quarterbacks that play with his style.
Tonight, you'll see him make a lot of throws that hit guys between the numbers.
No. 5 Bust: History of Spread Option QBs
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Spread option quarterbacks don't really have much success at the next level.
It's not a system that works in the NFL, and once these players get to the pro stage, they have to learn an entirely new way of thinking—a lot of them haven't succeeded. It's something you have to worry about if you're going to draft a guy out of that system.
Newton will have a lot of history against him once he goes pro.
No. 4 Star: Finds Ways to Win
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One thing Cam Newton did this year was win.
He did it in numerous different ways and did it against some of the top competition that college football has to offer. If Newton can win the national championship game tonight, he will have done it all this year, and it will have been one of the more impressive seasons in recent years.
There is no denying what Newton does for a team's success.
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No. 4 Bust: Playing Under Center
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One thing we don't know about Cam Newton is his ability to play under center at the next level.
He hasn't really been asked to do that at Auburn, and for the most part, NFL teams will want you to play from under center and run the offense. Newton will have to adjust, and some quarterbacks have really struggled with that.
If he can't do that, I'm not sure how much of a future he has in the NFL.
No. 3 Star: Dual Threat
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While spread option quarterbacks have struggled at the next level, mobile quarterbacks have experienced success.
Guys like Randall Cunningham, Steve Young, Steve McNair and Michael Vick have all had varying levels of success at the pro level, and there's no reason Newton can't do the same thing. He's not a runner who happens to play quarterback.
Newton will be able to move the chains with his arm and his legs, and it is a formula that has worked in the NFL.
No. 3 Bust: Reading Defenses
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One thing that remains to be seen is how Cam Newton reads defenses.
Sure, he went up against some of the best in the country in the SEC, but those are nothing compared to the ones he'll see in the NFL. They're complex, they'll attack the offense from multiple angles, and it takes young quarterbacks time to adjust.
It will be interesting to see if he can do that in the NFL.
No. 2 Star: Physical Gifts
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Cam Newton is a physical freak.
That's really the only way to describe him. He's 6'6", he's built like a redwood and he's a guy who looks like he was made to play football. NFL scouts are going to love the size and the strength he has, which project well to the next level.
With that frame, he certainly has the base to build a strong career upon.
No. 2 Bust: Project at the Next Level
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Cam Newton is not a guy that can step right into an NFL offense.
Newton is going to need to sit and learn and mature as a quarterback before ever taking the field in a regular season game. There will be a big push to get him on the field since he'll be a prominent draft pick, and that could hurt his development if his coaches give in to that urge.
That's something you need to worry about when you draft Newton. Do you have the time to wait around and allow him to mature?
No. 1 Star: Flair for the Dramatic
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Cam Newton has lit up the highlight reels this year, and he's been able to come up clutch in the biggest moments.
Newton is one of the main reasons Auburn is playing in tonight's national championship game, and games like the matchup against Alabama, where the quarterback helped lead a huge comeback against the Crimson Tide, are why he's so special.
Those kind of intangibles are coveted at the next level.
No. 1 Bust: Lack of College Experience
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While Cam Newton will be eligible for the draft after this season, we only have one full season of tape on Newton.
There's not a lot there to base a draft decision off, and it's a major gamble to take Newton with your draft choice. You'll either be praised or killed, depending on if it works out. While Newton has been fantastic this year, you have to worry when there's not a lot to base your decision off.
I'd love to see another year from Newton, but I'm not sure that will be the case.
Conclusion: Star
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When Cam Newton makes it to the NFL, I don't think he'll be a bust.
There's a lot Newton will do that quarterbacks he's being compared to never did. He has a much better release and form than Vince Young, and seeing what Newton went through this year, it seems he's already mentally tougher than the fragile Young.
He's built like a brick house, and he's extremely physically gifted. Newton will be a project, but he'll be one that will pay off.
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