Cam Newton: Is Carolina Panthers QB Leading Candidate for Rookie of the Year?

Will Cam Newton be able to go in 2011 where Sam Bradford was unable to go in 2010?

As good a year as Bradford had as a Rams rookie, he didn’t win the NFL’s Rookie of the Year Award, which instead went to Lions’ defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Last year it was Bradford, who came out of Oklahoma with some questions about his game, but who threw for 3,000-plus yards, who made the Rams an instant contender.

Carolina has to hope that Newton, taken with the first pick in the draft this year out of Auburn, is on the same track—with maybe a Rookie of the Year award in the offing. He’s certainly got to be considered among the leading candidates with the 2011 season still in its infancy.

A little more than halfway through his first regular season game, Newton seems like he might just be ready to follow in Bradford’s footsteps.

He’s thrown for a couple of touchdowns (and an interception), and is closing in on 300 yards in leading the Panthers to a 21-14 third-quarter lead in Arizona.

There is no question that Newton is not quite the polished thrower that Bradford was one game into a pro career. On the other hand, he’s mobile in the extreme and quick, which is going to help him work his way through opposing defenses. He’s already seen in some circles as being an heir to Michael Vick down the line as the game’s best running quarterback.

Unlike Bradford, Newton knew going in that the starting job was probably going to be his; Bradford didn’t know until the final few days before the Rams’ 2010 season opener.

Also unlike Bradford, Newton’s right arm, while strong, isn’t particularly accurate. That’s something he’s likely to grow into, although the preseason saw him missing entirely too many open, or partially open, receivers.

Given the knowledge that he’s going to be the man in Carolina, it would be no surprise were he to emerge as the best rookie come season’s end.