Cam Newton: Rookie Sensation Proving Carolina Panthers Got It Right on Draft Day

Not everyone is perfect. Not even ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., who had this to say after the Carolina Panthers took Cam Newton with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft,

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The Panthers got a player I had rated as the No. 15 overall player on my Big Board with the No. 1 pick, a guy even Newton's personal quarterback coach says should be given at least a year to serve an apprenticeship at the NFL level. And yet, of course you have to be intrigued with the potential of Newton. No player in the draft has such an array of physical gifts, and Newton is drafted at No. 1 because the Panthers know he has an extremely high ceiling.

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Kiper thought the Panthers overdrafted Newton, and he certainly wasn't the only one. Not many people thought Newton could come in and be a starter from the first day.

Those experts couldn't have been more wrong.

Newton has blown up in his first two games of the season and has proven that he deserved to be the No. 1 overall pick.

No one could have expected Newton to top 800 yards passing in his first two games in the NFL, but he has without a doubt exceeded all expectations.

Newton's only flaw thus far has been the interceptions. He has thrown four interceptions already this season and has been forcing the ball a bit too much.

Newton has not been as explosive running the ball, but he has been effective. Averaging nearly four yards per carry, he has run for 71 yards and two touchdowns. He has also picked up six first downs with his feet, which is quite impressive for such a small sample size.

In the end, we will have to wait and see how Newton continues to develop, but as of now, Newton is proving to the world he was the right selection at No. 1 overall.