Cam Newton - In which round will be be drafted?

[Evil Ash]

Mid 1st round.

We're not taking him or any other QB in the first round this year. The sooner people get to this reality the better.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Skelton QB'd the Cardinals to as many wins in his first year as Warner did in Kurt's first year with Arizona.

Then, clearly, Skelton did quiet well as a rookie also.

Steve

 

[Krangodnzr]

Tim Tebow has done quiet well as a rookie and went in the first round.

Cam Newton is better than Tebow.

Not really. Compare Tebow's numbers and you'll see that Tebow is an all time great, where as Newton was pretty good.

I have less questions of whether Tebow will be good than Newton. Tebow at least did it for years, where as Newton is one and done.

 

[Duckjake]

Not really. Compare Tebow's numbers and you'll see that Tebow is an all time great, where as Newton was pretty good.

I have less questions of whether Tebow will be good than Newton. Tebow at least did it for years, where as Newton is one and done.

Yeah but that was a BIG one.

My question is why isn't Josh Freeman mentioned very often when people are discussing Cam Newton? Similar size. Similar stats their last season. Freeman seems to be doing ok in Tampa.

How about Jason Campbell? He even played for Auburn. And he only played one year. Winning 8 games in Oakland is no small feat. The Raiders hadn't won more than 5 games in a season in 7 years.

Is it because they didn't run as much in college?

I guess bringing up Vince Young and JaMarcus Russell instead are better examples if someone wants to bash Newton.

However, character issues are hard to overlook. Far too many guys with character problems have been busts in the NFL to discount it.

 

[Seandonic]

Mid 1st round.

We're not taking him or any other QB in the first round this year. The sooner people get to this reality the better.

Sadly, I believe that this is correct...word for word.

 

[Conquest]

Hmmm, Mr. Tebow has never been known to be quiet, he's done quite well being very vocal, lol.

 

[Harry]

I think he goes mid to late first round to a current contender with an aging QB. A couple of teams have him on their radar earlier, but I think it is unlikely they pull the trigger. It's nice to see Bickley finally figured out he wasn't worth a top pick.

 

[Cardiac]

I think he goes mid to late first round to a current contender with an aging QB. A couple of teams have him on their radar earlier, but I think it is unlikely they pull the trigger. It's nice to see Bickley finally figured out he wasn't worth a top pick.

Good thought but that only leaves the Pats. Well maybe the Seahawks as well.

 

[conraddobler]

The first one of course.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Mid 1st round.

We're not taking him or any other QB in the first round this year. The sooner people get to this reality the better.

.... and pray tell, who in the FO slipped this bit of info to you?

 

[Krangodnzr]

Yeah but that was a BIG one.

My question is why isn't Josh Freeman mentioned very often when people are discussing Cam Newton? Similar size. Similar stats their last season. Freeman seems to be doing ok in Tampa.

How about Jason Campbell? He even played for Auburn. And he only played one year. Winning 8 games in Oakland is no small feat. The Raiders hadn't won more than 5 games in a season in 7 years.

Is it because they didn't run as much in college?

I guess bringing up Vince Young and JaMarcus Russell instead are better examples if someone wants to bash Newton.

However, character issues are hard to overlook. Far too many guys with character problems have been busts in the NFL to discount it.

All the QB's you mention here were at least in an offense that the QB was expected to go to more than just the first read.

Freeman wasn't a "running QB". Every season he attempted more passes than rushes.

Jason Campbell was the ultimate game manager at Auburn, not a running QB.

The only QB you list that's similar is Vince Young, and Young at least had a much more proven track record. More than one season as a starter, and as streaky as he was as a passer, he still was better than Newton is.

IMO Newton is a solid prospect, much like what Harry hits on, for a team that can sit back and let him watch for a year or two. But for us we need an impact player now! Newton is not ready to play. IMO as much as a project that Tebow is, he was more ready to play right away.

The Cardinals, if any year was ripe for it, need to seriously consider trading down. There should be a player or two that teams will want to trade up for. Gabbert or one of the CBs come to mind. This is one of those drafts that there is one or two players that we should consider, but the rest are 15-31 prospects and are not suited to be drafted at #5.

Guys I'm interested in at #5 depending on workouts and the like:
1) Robert Quinn
2) Da'Quan Bowers
3) AJ Green

Green has jumped up into the discussion for me based on a few things: 1. He's a gamebreaking talent, which most of the players at the top of the round are not.
2. We could lose Fitz soon.

I'm not advocated that we let Fitz walk, but Fitz holds all the cards in this negotiation. IMO Green will not be as good as Fitz is, but he'll be very good. Too bad South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery isn't coming out this year. I like him a whole more than Green.

Quinn is my favorite player, but he's a gamble. Rarely does need and a perfect fit collide. Quinn IMO, would fit Joey Porter's position and would be an impact player early on. He moves very well, but he can also take on blocks which is an underrated skill for a 3-4 OLB. Everyone always wants to see a guy with a quick first step (Von Miller) but more times than not a rusher has to run through blockers not around them.

Bowers isn't a perfect fit, but he's a dynamic player like Fairley.

If the two defensive players I like are gone, and Green is available, I'd think long and hard on it. Probably still trade down. But IMO he is an option.

Trade down options include Gabe Carimi and Derrick Sherrod. Like Harry said, it's unlikely that Carimi is a LT, but he's a very good player, and could play one of the guard spots or RT and be a ten year starter. Sherrod is a pure LT, but it's debatable what his ceiling is.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I seem to recall a trade down that gave us Johnson, Pace and years of posts questioning the move.

I'll stick with #5, invest in potential greatness, and avoid the illusion of the first rounder who contributes mightily in first year.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I seem to recall a trade down that gave us Johnson, Pace and years of posts questioning the move.

I'll stick with #5, invest in potential greatness, and avoid the illusion of the first rounder who contributes mightily in first year.

Yeah but Suggs was an absolute need pick, a perfect match of draft slot and talent plus he brought local appeal. I know the local angle is always scary but when the guy isn't a reach, it's a smart business decision. The trade was made worse by the choices we made with the picks we received.

Steve

 

[Krangodnzr]

I seem to recall a trade down that gave us Johnson, Pace and years of posts questioning the move.

I'll stick with #5, invest in potential greatness, and avoid the illusion of the first rounder who contributes mightily in first year.

Like AzStevenCal said, T-Sizzle was there and was the obvious choice.

This year there may not be a perfect fit; outside of a few players, the difference between a lot of the players we would select at #5 or #20 wouldn't be too great.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Yeah but Suggs was an absolute need pick, a perfect match of draft slot and talent plus he brought local appeal. I know the local angle is always scary but when the guy isn't a reach, it's a smart business decision. The trade was made worse by the choices we made with the picks we received.

Steve

The argument for passing on Suggs at the time (and supported by many posters) was that he wasn't a 4-3 end, which we were running at the time, and many questioned his speed. Hard to believe, I know.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The argument for passing on Suggs at the time (and supported by many posters) was that he wasn't a 4-3 end, which we were running at the time, and many questioned his speed. Hard to believe, I know.

I wasn't posting much back then but I do remember the arguments. It seemed to me it was greatly fueled by the people who thought the Suggs bandwagon was driven solely by ASU idiots. People were displeased with Plummer (and Tillman) and were reluctant to accept that Terrell's numbers were legit.

Steve

 

[Evil Ash]

.... and pray tell, who in the FO slipped this bit of info to you?

It was a mixture of common sense and what has been reported through various means (blogs, tweets, radio segments) from Urban, Somers and Jurecki. When the names of the first round QB prospects were brought up with these reporters, they were all but shot down. They have all brought up the need for an immediate impact player and a rookie QB that doesn't see the field even on special teams doesn't fit in that category.

The team has pressure on it to win NOW after the debacle this year.

 

[Duckjake]

Freeman wasn't a "running QB". Every season he attempted more passes than rushes.

Jason Campbell was the ultimate game manager at Auburn, not a running QB.

That's what I thought. Just seemed odd that two relatively successful 6'5" 230lb+ QBs without big time college passing stats were never mentioned in the Newton discussions.

 

[Krangodnzr]

That's what I thought. Just seemed odd that two relatively successful 6'5" 230lb+ QBs without big time college passing stats were never mentioned in the Newton discussions.

It's funny, I liked Campbell quite a bit but I was shocked he went so high. He just screamed game manager/dumpoff QB to me. A perfect fit for the Ravens championship team of years ago, not a guy you'd count on to win.

Freeman's play is shocking, but it just goes to show how quick good young QBs can adapt to today's game. IMO the transition is not as bad as it once was. Go back to the 80's and few QBs were playing in offenses that were even close to as complex as an NFL offense. Now QBs are playing in much more complicated offenses and the transition can be near seamless at times comparatively speaking.

 

[desertdawg]

Freeman's play is shocking, but it just goes to show how quick good young QBs can adapt to today's game. IMO the transition is not as bad as it once was. Go back to the 80's and few QBs were playing in offenses that were even close to as complex as an NFL offense. Now QBs are playing in much more complicated offenses and the transition can be near seamless at times comparatively speaking.

I credit this to Madden and video games. That and the game has come a long way with QBs and passing techniques, which is being taught to future QBs earlier and earlier.
Skelton is a lot closer than I think other people give him cred for. Dude is smart, big, he would rather throw, arm is nice and the footing will get better with experience. Excitement can mess with ones footwork, the better QBs tend to get calmer with more time in the heat of battle.
I still would like Newton, if Skelton doesn't pan out, he would be chomping at the bit.
Starting not to care about which vet we get, I don't see us being a real threat until we have a real QBOTF. Skelton and Newton are good shots at that.

 

[Southpaw]

He will probably be taken in the 1st round, because there aren't 32 teams smart enough not to take him in the 1st round.

 

[Southpaw]

I spent a decade making a living in hockey, and don't see what some perceive as character flaws as being of any great consequence. Young men do silly, thoughtless things, and hopefully learn. This doesn't constitute a red flag, to my mind.

Not that the questioning of Cam comes as any great surprise. There were some on this board who saw Tebow's religious convictions as a potential red flag a year ago.

and he was advised by his handlers to tone it down, which he did.

 

[Southpaw]

Draft Cam Newton.

Actually didn't they just draft a QB from Florida Atlantic?

Rusty Smith. 6th round 2010. My alma mater. Whoo hoo. Go Owls.

 

[Southpaw]

It's funny, I liked Campbell quite a bit but I was shocked he went so high. He just screamed game manager/dumpoff QB to me. A perfect fit for the Ravens championship team of years ago, not a guy you'd count on to win.

Freeman's play is shocking, but it just goes to show how quick good young QBs can adapt to today's game. IMO the transition is not as bad as it once was. Go back to the 80's and few QBs were playing in offenses that were even close to as complex as an NFL offense. Now QBs are playing in much more complicated offenses and the transition can be near seamless at times comparatively speaking.

Never liked Campbell, still don't. Guy can't pull the trigger.

Freeman had great college numbers and performances but played for Kansas State, under Ron Prince ( yuck ), and couldn't get the same pub as Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, et al. He was recruited by Nebraska to be a TE. Then he got lost in the draft behind Stafford and Sanchez. He reminds me of Ben Roeth..... .

 

[JeffGollin]

Newton is a top 15 athlete.

If he doesn't fit the QB profile, you could always make him a RB, TE or even a SS or LB.

Regarding character issues - I'd be careful about writing him off prematurely. I admit that I haven't been scrutinizing every Newton story to hit the media, but - on face value - believe there's a significant difference between, say, (a) robbing a bank, beating up a girlfriend or shooting somebody and (b) letting an agent (or a mom, dad or uncle or coach) talk you into taking money from an agent or otherwise violating NCAA recruiting regs.

Separate but related - We should be careful to distinguish whether a trangression reflects a genuine ongoing character flaw or merely a stupid decision made immaturely.

Warren Sapp and Randy Moss were two prospects many teams wrote off due to "character issues." While neither were exactly angels, they went on to have productive careers and help their teams be successful.

Bottom line: Is Newton the next Sapp or the next Phillips?