2011 NFL Draft: Nick Fairley Slipping, Cam Newton No. 1?

The 2011 NFL draft is quickly approaching, and it’s becoming that time when teams need to start figuring out what they are looking for.

This draft is filled with the usual suspects.

You’ve got your high-profile quarterbacks, quick and bruising running backs, dynamic wide receivers, solid linemen and dominant defensive forces.

That’s not surprising, and to be honest, it should be expected. This is a draft that has great talent extending past the first round.

Fans always get excited about a high draft pick, and having your team in the top five almost guarantees you a high-impact player.

What I don’t think some fans realize, though, is that your team is drafting so highly because it was in trouble the season before, and most likely has some very big holes to fill.

The higher the reward, the higher the risk can be, and there is no greater risk or reward than the No. 1 pick.

As such, the Carolina Panthers have a lot to think about before they enter the draft.

Many people have speculated that Auburn’s Nick Fairley will be the player the Panthers go for, and for all intents and purposes, it makes plenty of sense.

Fairley is one of the more dominant defensive linemen I've seen come out of college. He's drawn comparisons to Detroit’s Ndamukong Suh as far as aggression, dominance and overall impact on a game are concerned.

Reports have surfaced that Fairley’s stock has been dropping, though, and that former Auburn teammate Cam Newton’s stock has been rising closer to that No. 1 slot.

Concerns about Fairley’s conditioning, technical abilities and overall knowledge of defensive schemes have come out, and the Panthers may take those into account.

At this point, it really becomes a question of need. What does Carolina need?

It's a team that must rebuild and find itself, so undoubtedly there are a ton of needs. The first overall pick, however, is a very special thing to have and must be filled with a very special player.

Could Cam Newton be that guy?

New Panthers head coach Ron Rivera has stated he is searching for the Panthers' franchise quarterback, and is determining whether or not said quarterback is already on the roster or is to be found in the draft.

Can the Panthers and their fans trust Jimmy Clausen to be the guy leading this team into the future, or is it worth it to start completely from scratch with a player like Newton?

That's is just one of the questions the Panthers are surely asking themselves.

Like I said, the higher the reward, the greater the risk will be. The Panthers have a lot to risk in this draft, and the future of their franchise will depend on the decisions they make.

So, who to take: Newton or Fairley?

You be the judge.