2011 NFL Draft: The Panthers Should Say No to Newton

One aspect of the NFL Draft that always intrigues me is how players move up and down draft boards long after the NFL Combine and Pro Day workouts are over.

There is a reason the guys in NFL front offices work in player personnel and I don't, but I never understood how players move up and down draft boards when nothing has happened.

That's really an argument for a different day, but for better or worse, Cam Newton has been the benefactor of this change of heart among NFL teams.

The love affair begins with the Carolina Panthers, who are drafting first overall.

As of the NFL Combine and shortly after, the Panthers were still largely pegged to select one of the top defensive players in the draft like Alabama's Marcel Dareus or Auburn's Nick Fairley.

Now, all signs point to them taking Newton. Respected NFL experts like Gil Brandt and Adam Schefter think it's all but a done deal.

Former NFL head coach Dan Reeves even went as far as to say "If I'm them, I'm taking Cam Newton."

But should they?

Sure, there is an unbelievable amount of upside there. He was the most dominant player in college football last season. Newton threw for over 2,800 yards while competing over 66 percent of his passes. He also rushed for over 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns. There was a reason he was the Heisman Trophy winner.

All told, he was probably the best combination of skills and productivity among quarterbacks in college football last year.

I'm just not sold that those positives outweigh the significant negatives, especially in a year when there are so many other skilled players that could be taken.

First among the question marks is the thought that Newton is simply a one-year wonder. Last season was his only significant playing time at the Division I level. He previously had played sparingly in two years at Florida before transferring to Blinn College.

There are also questions about whether Newton will be nearly as successful in a more traditional offense like he will likely be running in the NFL.

Auburn ran a very wide open offense that was catered to Newton's unique skill set. He'd be mistaken if he expects his new offensive coordinator to rework his offense around him.

While Newton spent last season running around and past defenders, it won't be so easy for him to do that at the next level.

There is concern that the speed of defenses will nullify his scrambling, thus making it easier for teams to drop more defensive backs and linebackers into coverage. Let's call it the Vince Young effect.

And what of Jimmy Clausen? The Panthers used an early second-round pick on him just last year. He had a rough rookie season marred by inconsistency and injuries, but is that reason enough for the Panthers to give up on him being a starter in the future?

The Panthers have a ton of needs, so shouldn't they use that pick on a defensive player or any other position and at least see what they have in Clausen before they throw more resources (money, namely) at another quarterback?

Then there's the elephant in the room. Cam Newton comes with a list of character issues that could go on for days.

It began when he was kicked off the team at Florida for stealing a laptop and then throwing it out of a window to hide it from the authorities.

Then came the revelation that his father was shopping him around to the highest bidder as he was transferring out from Blinn. While Cam, Cam's father and Cam's representatives have sworn up and down that Cam had no knowledge of that while it was occurring, you have to wonder if we're getting the whole story. The NCAA will undoubtedly dig further into this story, which will only lead to more drama surrounding Newton and whatever NFL team he ends up on.

With talented players like Blaine Gabbert, Patrick Peterson, Marcel Dareus, Nick Fairley, Von Miller and AJ Green on the board, it would be a hard sell for me if I were a Panthers fan. That's a lot of risk for a player you are investing so much in.