A different take. I know all signs are pointing to Carolina selecting Newton. However, it is not set in stone, and this mock is predicated on the scenario that Newton slides. It is more what i think teams should do, rather than what i think they will do. Carolina is in a tough spot with so many holes to fill, and no second round pick. I just don't think Newton is mature enough to lead a bad team. My gut tells me there is a sense of entitlement there, same way i thought about Leinart coming out. Way too risky for me if i'm picking for Carolina. The Bills can afford to roll with Fitzpatrick while grooming somone like Dalton or Kapernick if they go for them in round 2. If both Carolina and the Bills pass, i could see Newton falling to the Vikings, which would actually be his best chance to succeed right away.
I don't think there is any way Newton gets by Buffalo at #3. If carolina doesn't take him, I think its a lock the bills will. Even if the bills pass, I don't think the Redskins would at 10, or probably the niners at 7 either. but aside from the choice to have Newton slide, I like the mock.
I agree with nyjetsrule about Newton, but actually taking it a step farther, I don't think he'd get past Denver. I've seen at least one, maybe two articles that say that John Elway is very, very high on Newton and if Carolina should somehow pass, they would quickly take Newton. For the record, Carolina is not a bad team. They have a good, young D with a pretty good secondary, good LBers and good DEs. Their major need on D is at DT. On Offense, their major need of course, is at QB. I think their OL is a bit overrated, but most of that is due to no depth. They have excellent depth at RB even if DeAngelo Williams doesn't return with Jonathan Stewart and Mike Goodson. Their TEs are so-so, and have some good young WRs. With a good QB and a #1 WR or a solid #2 opposite Steve Smith and any kind of lift from Rivera as HC like the Jets got from Rex, and I think they would surprise a lot of teams. As it is, if they take Newston, I think he needs to sit for at least a year, maybe 2. The Panthers need to find a solid veteran QB regardless of the cost, and regardless of whether they take Newton or not. They'll need a mentor for whatever QB they take, be it this year or next.
Don't buy into Elway's smoke screen. I don't see any scenario where Denver passes on Dareus or Peterson to add another QB. If there was a Bradford in this draft, then it would be different story. Orton is a capable vet, and they owe it to themselves to see if they got anything in Tebow. Carolina may not be bad, but they are ushering in a new staff, have a lot of holes, and don't necessarily have a stable group of veterans to provide a certain leadership. These are missing components which would lend toward Newton's maturity. There's no drafting a guy #1 overall, and then sitting him for 1-2 years, which is why i think they should address the D line need with Dareus instead. The team i don't see him slipping past is Buffalo. However, i don't think that is Buffalo's best move. There is better value in grabbing Miller, and taking a QB in round 2 to groom behind Fitzpatrick. I based this mock on what i think teams should do, rather than what they will do. One thing is for sure, where these QB's end of getting picked is going to determine the whole direction of the 1st two rounds. Will be interesting to see how may go in round 1. I'm guessing 4 at this point, with 3 more going early-mid second.
It could be a smokescreen on Elway's part, but maybe not. He wasn't a part of the decision-making team when Tebow was taken. He may have seen enough to know he doesn't like Tebow. Maybe Elway sees the high ceiling and potential in Newton, and thinks he can pick Newton, take him under his wing to personally tutor, and lets Orton start for a year (two if necessary). I definitely disagree that just because you take a QB at #1 that he has to start immediately. Why? The ideal with any QB is to give him some time to adapt to life in the NFL and the speed of the game without pressure. Let him learn from a vet and take over when he's ready. Newton will need more time to learn than perhaps some other would, but then has a much higher ceiling. Carolina needs a new face of the franchise. Taking someone with as much talent and as exciting as Newton would rally the fan base after last year, as well as potentially giving them the best QB they've ever had. Carolina has enough vets for leadership. They can always sign another or two. I could certainly understand if they take Dareus. He should be a great player for whomever takes him. The thing is, if they take him, I think there's a good chance that Rivera has that D good enough to knock them out of the Luck derby next year (if Luck even comes out then).
I agree with the sentiments on Denver. Elway may be a Newton fan, but his predecessors (the morons that they are) stupidly drafted a developmental QB way to high when their team was not good enough to compete as it is (all while having a more than capable guy in Orton) I agree though about the Bills. Newton is their QB of choice if he is there, I doubt it takes them 20 seconds to get their card in. I also don't disagree that neither team should take him. but somebody will, because it is a QB league, and they are going to force them into the lineup before he is ready, and its probably going to kill the kids career before he really has a chance. Especially if it is buffalo, they have zero OL. I can see them throwing Newton into the fire, and him coming out of it with David Carr syndrome.
I think the first 3 teams picking would all be foolish to pick QB's. Carolina has Claussen, and Pike who they picked last year, and they have needs all over the field. Denver has Orton, who is good enough to get you to the playoffs if they had a decent defense. Plus they will obviously want to see what Tebow can do. Fitzpatrick in Buffalo was actually a pretty good player. There is no way Newton or Gabbert would EARN the starting spot over him in year one. I have a feeling Newton and Gabbert go to either Cincy, AZ, or San Fran. The defensive talent is so strong at the top, and there are very good QB's slotted for the second round. If I was a GM, there is no way in hell I would pick Cam Newton over Darius, Von Miller, Peterson or AJ Green.
