2011 NFL Draft: Cam Newton Pro Day, Is He the Best Quarterback?

Cam Newton put on a show for the scouts Tuesday at the Auburn pro day. Of course, the Auburn quarterback was throwing against no defense, but the workout was still impressive.

Then again, when has a quarterback not had an impressive pro day? All of that aside, he showed improved footwork and accuracy in addition to his natural arm strength and athleticism.

At the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, Cam Newton completed just 11 of his 21 passes during his throwing drills. Today was certainly an improvement over that workout, as he completed 50 of the 60 passes in his route tree.

So where does Newton stand after today’s workout?

Well, his stock did not take a hit today, but the workout was not a slam dunk. Newton is still in contention to be the first quarterback taken in the 2011 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert is breathing down his neck. Gabbert will have his pro day on March 17th.

With the race for the No. 1 overall pick still wide open, the draft’s top prospects will be analyzed and over analyzed ad nauseum for the next month-and-a-half.

Another prospect rumored to be a consideration of the Carolina Panthers, Nick Fairley, also impressed scouts today at Auburn’s pro day. He added six pounds to his frame and showed great feet for a man his size. Fairley’s stock is directly tied to that of Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, who blew up at the combine.

There’s still a long way to go in the NFL Draft process, but Cam Newton and Nick Fairley seem to have solidified their statuses as top 10 picks in the 2011 NFL Draft.