This was a no-brainer. Last night, Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton announced that he will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. Newton led Auburn to their first BCS championship this past season while putting up 2854 passing yards and 30 TD's and 1473 with 20 TDs on the ground.
The 6'6, 250 lb junior college transfer does not come without baggage, as he was under well-documented scrutiny by the NCAA for his father Cecil Newton allegedly shopping his son's eligibility to Mississippi St. for about $180,000. I guess Cecil was looking to get an early return on investment for Cam and working on his negotiation skills. With a pop like that, who needs an agent?
Cam began his college career as Tim Tebow's backup at Florida before leaving the school in 2008 after being arrested for possession of a stolen laptop. The charges in the case were subsequently dropped and Newton spent the 2009 football season playing (and rapping) for Blinn Junior College in TX.
While Newton has excellent size and measurables for an NFL quarterback, he will definitely need time to develop his passing skills and ability to read coverages as he played in a spread offense at Auburn. Cam wasn't asked to take many snaps under center and will need to work on his footwork leading up to the draft. He has deceptive speed, a strong arm and is a proven winner, many of the same qualities/deficiencies as Tebow when he entered the draft and so far he has turned out OK for the Broncos.
Right now I would say Newton is a 2nd rounder with a chance to go late in the first round to a team with an established QB that will allow Cam a chance to develop. Of course with quite a few teams needing quaterbacks early in the draft he has a shot to go mid first round.
And if Cecil has anything to do with it, expect to see Cammy Cam Juice on your local super market shelves sooner than later.
-ALR
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