It’s that time of year again. Without the Pro Bowl to look forward to, the post Super Bowl lull felt more like a plummet this year, and all we have to soften the blow is the looming draft.
Ouch, sometimes the draft feels more like a brick wall in the face than the cushion we require after braking from such speed! The last season was a rollercoaster – one of the best. And going from the Super Bowl hype to studying pages of stats and vital statistics can be a gruelling shakedown.
But as the draft approaches, the memories of last season – nay, the thrall of such memories – begin to fade. We start to look forwards, not back, at what could happen next year. Who will go from worst to first? Who will pick-up a steal? Which of these fresh-faced rookies will be snapped-up by the team that is unknowingly heading towards Super Bowl glory? No one knows, but one draft class will be wearing rings by the end of their first campaign, and that is something to get excited about.
So which of these youngsters can contribute right away? Who fills a gaping need for the teams that took a battering last year? This is not a draft chart (I will produce one in April, but not yet), this is simply a player by player evaluation of who might have the minerals to satisfy one of the more beleaguered coaches.
As always, many teams have questions at QB, so let’s start with the most intriguing prospect the draft has to offer: Cam Newton.
In the run-up to the combine, Cam Newton was the name on every scout’s lips. He is the classic buzz-generator: he has off-the-chart vitals; an army-levelling cannon for an arm; athleticism of which Carl Lewis would approve; the glittering college career that so often misleads…
But he’s another one of those freaks like JaMarcus Russell and Vince Young – huge, mobile guys that have been the pivot around which a flimsy college offence has turned. They are not pro-style players; they are projects. Every so often, one of these diamonds in the rough gets cut well and the best results are garnered (think Big Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers). But more often than not, a flawed facet runs too deep to be rectified. The drafter is forced to break up the diamond and flog it for what he can get – no longer the glitzy prospect it was, but some guys are willing to buy something untested in the hope they strike it rich.
Blaine Gabbert is now viewed as the best draft package and suitable for immediate deployment in a pro-style offence.
Newton’s inexperience in the professional style of game, lack of practice with progressions and questionable off-field temperament mean his stock will slide, BUT this could be good, nay great news, for a mid-range team with all the components but a QB.
Where the Auburn product may have gone number 1 in past years, enormous busts at this position may encourage owners to play it safe with a more mature prospect such as Gabbert.
I see Newton falling from the top spot for sure (and will at least be the second QB taken), but he may not fall far because here are my top picks to snap him up:
1: Arizona (pick number 5): This team could be a great fit for Newton. Coach Ken Whisenhunt needs a franchise QB of his own after shipping former Heisman winner, Matt Leinart, and having limited success with one-time third stringer, Max Hall.
Furthermore, Whisenhunt made a huge success out of Roethlisberger, turning him from a rough project into a game-breaking winner. He could do the same with Newton, and I’m sure his off-field issues will not be a problem for Coach Ken to handle. One of the criticisms of Newton’s throwing is his accuracy. With one of the league’s best ‘jump ball’ guys in Larry Fitzgerald, being able to get the ball high and deep is enough to give your man the better chance of coming down with the rock.
For those reasons (the coach, excusable throwing weaknesses due to tall, talented receivers, mobility) I think Cam fits in AZ.
2: Carolina (pick number 1): Taking Newton top would be a huge gamble when Gabbert is on the board. Furthermore, the Panthers don’t figure to be a bad team for long – they had a rough ride last season, but look pretty solid returning. The last thing they need is a green QB playing in their division. They already have last year’s second round snatch, Jimmy Clausen, and I think they should prevail with him. They are only on this list because I think they should get rid of the first pick and trade down in the first round, and try to pick up a mid-second and/or third/veteran as part of the deal. If they trade with someone mid-table (maybe Seattle, who could fancy drafting Gabbert to take over from Hasselbeck, bypassing Whitehurst) then Newton could become value. Worth having him on your roster? I think so. Pat White was a creative force and useful backup in Miami, and Newton could yet blossom into a fine young player.
3: Buffalo (pick number 3): With 2 top-ranked QBs in the draft and sitting third, behind Carolina (who likely won’t use their pick on a QB if they elect to hold onto it) and Denver (a team stacked with Quarterbacking potential), Buffalo must be rubbing their New York Mitts with glee.
For seasons the Bills have struggled to find a legitimate starter; maybe this draft can offer the answer? It is hard to say, but it seems likely the Bills will be tempted to take Gabbert (if available) or Newton and bench their long-time suffering QB carousel.
So that’s the Newton fiasco in a nutshell. He shouldn’t last beyond the top ten, but stranger things have happened. Stay tuned-in to this blog and NFL.com to track his progress through the evaluation process.
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