2011 NFL Draft: Power Ranking Cameron Newton and the Top 10 Quarterbacks

There's a bevy of talented quarterbacks entering the 2011 NFL Draft, such as Ryan Mallett, Blaine Gabbert and Cameron Newton. This is exciting to a lot of owners because many teams around the league are in need of a new franchise quarterback to help lead their organization.

Every quarterback listed in the top five of this power ranking is very likely to be selected in the first round and has the potential to be successful immediately, if need be.  

Cam Newton has excited many analysts and scouts after his National Championship performance and is now a mid-end first round lock for the 2011 NFL Draft.  Newton, along with Gabbert, has quickly become a top QB entering the draft since Andrew Luck made his decision to return to Stanford.

The following slides power rank the top 10 quarterbacks entering the 2011 NFL Draft.

10. Taylor Potts, Texas Tech Red Raiders

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LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Taylor Potts #12 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders against the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Height: 6'5''

Weight: 222 pounds

Class: Redshirt Senior

Season Stats: 369-551, 3726 yards, a 67.0 CMP percentage, 35 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 141.10 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: TicketCity Bowl vs. Northwestern (Won 45-38): Completed 43 of 56 attempted passes for 369 yards, a 76.8 CMP percentage, four touchdowns, one interception and a 152.13 QB rating. Two rushing attempts for 19 yards and 1 touchdown.

9. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada Wolf Pack

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 09: Colin Kaepernick #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack throws the ball against Boston College during the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park on January 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Height: 6'6''

Weight: 225 pounds

Class: Senior

Season Stats: 233-359, 3022 yards, a 64.9 CMP percentage, 21 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 150.46 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl vs. Boston College (Won 20-13): Completed 20 of 33 attempted passes for 192 yards, a 60.6 CMP percentage, 1 touchdown, 1 interception and a 113.42 QB rating.

Awards Throughout Collegiate Career: WAC Freshman of the Year (2007), Fireman's Award (2007), WAC Offensive Player of the Year (2008, 2010) and Humanitarian Bowl MVP in 2008

8. Greg McElroy, Alabama Crimson Tide

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Greg McElroy #12 of the Alabama Crimson Tide passes the ball during the Capitol One Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans at the Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Height: 6'3''

Weight: 225 pounds

Class: Redshirt Senior

Season Stats: 222-313, 2987 yards, a 70.9 CMP percentage, 20 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 168.98 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: Capital One Bowl vs. Michigan State (Won 49-7): Completed 13 of 17 attempted passes for 220 yards, a 76.5 CMP percentage, 1 touchdown and a 204.59 QB rating.

Awards: 2009 SEC Championship Game MVP and a BCS National Champion in 2010

7. Christian Ponder, Florida State Seminoles

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RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 28: Christian Ponder #7 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during their game at Carter-Finley Stadium on October 28, 2010 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo

Height: 6'3''

Weight: 227 pounds

Class: Redshirt Senior

Season Stats: 184-299, 2044 yards, a 61.5 CMP percentage, 20 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 135.68 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance (Left with a Concussion): Chick-fil-A Bowl vs. South Carolina (Won 26-17): Completed one out of five attempted passes for 6 yards and a 30.08 QB rating.

6. Andy Dalton, TCU Horned Frogs

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates with the Rose Bowl Championship Trophy after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 21-19 in the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by

Height: 6'3''

Weight: 220 pounds

Class: Senior

Season Stats: 209-316, 2857 yards, a 66.1 CMP percentage, 27 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 166.48 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: Rose Bowl vs. Wisconsin (Won 21-19): Completed 15 of 23 attempted passes for 219 yards, a 65.2 CMP percentage, one touchdown and a 159.55 QB rating. Nine rushing attempts for 28 yards and 1 touchdown.

Awards: 2007 Texas Bowl MVP, 2008 Poinsettia Bowl MVP and the 2011 Rose Bowl Offensive MVP

5. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa Hawkeyes

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Ricky Stanzi #12 of the Iowa Hawkeyes walks off the field after defeating the Missouri Tigers in the Insight Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (

Height: 6'4''

Weight: 230 pounds

Class: Senior

Season Stats: 221-345, 3004 yards, a 64.1 CMP percentage, 25 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 157.63 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: Insight Bowl vs. Missouri (Won 27-24): Completed 11 of 21 attempted passes for 200 yards, a 52.4 CMP percentage, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a 113.33 QB rating

4. Jake Locker, Washington Huskies

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TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies drops back to pass during the college football game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Huskies 4

Height: 6'3''

Weight: 230 pounds

Class: Senior

Season Stats: 184-332, 2265 yards, a 55.4 CMP percentage, 17 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 124.20 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl vs. Nebraska (Won 19-7): Completed five of 16 attempted passes for 56 yards, a 31.3 CMP percentage and a 60.65 QB rating

Awards: Pac 10 Freshman of the Year (2007), Freshman All-American (2007) and a Holiday Bowl Champion in 2010

Locker's stock continues to drop, but his extreme competitiveness and natural skill set will land him on some team within the top 30 picks.

3. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas Razorbacks

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew

Height: 6'6''

Weight: 238 pounds

Class: Redshirt Junior

Season Stats: 266-411, 3869 yards, a 64.7 CMP percentage, 32 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 163.65 QB rating

Bowl Game Performance: Allstate Sugar Bowl vs. Ohio State (Lost 31-26): Completed 24 for 47 attempted passes for 277 yards, a 51.1 CMP percentage, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception and a 110.36 QB rating.

Awards: Liberty Bowl MVP in 2009 and Second-team ALL-SEC honors in 2009

2. Cameron Newton, Auburn Tigers

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Quarterback Cameron Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates the Tigers 22-19 victory with the fans after defeating the Oregon Ducks in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10

Height: 6'6''

Weight: 250 pounds

Class: Junior

Season Stats: 185-280, 2854 yards, a 66.1 CMP percentage, 30 touchdowns, 7 interceptions and a 182.05 QB rating

Performance in BCS Championship: 20-34, 265 yards, two touchdowns, 1 interception, a 58.8 CMP percentage and a 137.82 QB rating.

Cam Newton is known for his unbelievable running abilities, but also has a cannon for an arm with underrated accuracy.  Newton has the potential to be a great professional and is projected to be picked in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

1. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri Tigers

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers drops back to pass during the Insight Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (P

Height: 6'5''

Weight: 235 pounds

Class: Junior

Bowl Game Performance: Insight Bowl vs. Iowa (Lost 27-24): Completed 41 of 57 attempted passes for 434 yards, a 71.9 CMP percentage, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions and a 134.66 QB rating. One rushing touchdown.

As analysts have looked back at past tapes, and Andrew Luck has decided to stay at Stanford, Blaine Gabbert has quickly become the highest rated quarterback entering the 2011 NFL Draft.  This season, Gabbert completed a total of 301 passes out of 475 attempts for 3186 yards, a 63.4 CMP percentage, 16 touchdowns, 9 interceptions and a 127.03 QB rating.