2011 NFL Draft Preview: The Carolina Panthers Must Take Cam Newton

April 11, 2011   ·   Chris G.   ·   Jump to comments

Jimmy Clausen should be looking over his shoulder, because if the Carolina Panthers make the choice with the first overall draft pick, Cam Newton will be looming tall behind the second year quarterback.
Not to overly simplify things, but if you want to win in the NFL, you need a franchise quarterback, and when you are in position to draft a franchise quarterback, you better not pass it up.
Let’s take a look at Newton’s closest NFL comparison, Ben Roethlisberger.
In 2004, Roethlisberger, along with Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, were the top three quarterbacks in the draft, and any one of them could have been selected at the top of the draft.
Roethlisberger was the odd man out and began to fall.
Then the Cleveland Browns swapped draft positions with the Detroit Lions. Owning the sixth pick in the draft, the Browns were in perfect position to land a franchise quarterback who also happened to be from Ohio. Instead, they took tight end Kellen Winslow.
Read Complete Article at Bleacher Report - NFL
Article is property of BleacherReport.com