So hypothetically speaking

[Lumps]

So you guys would want Newton if there was a lockout? Cause if he is your guy he's your guy right? Or are most Newton fans taking him just because he is a QB? I think that is a dumb reason to take someone. Trade down to 5-15 and take whoever is left I say, get a second in the deal minimum, is that so unrealistic? There are players more worthy of the #1 pick according to every 'expert' and anyone with common sense. However, if we could trade down and end up with cam or BG that would be ideal and I think easily possible.

[mav1234]

So you guys would want Newton if there was a lockout? Cause if he is your guy he's your guy right? Or are most Newton fans taking him just because he is a QB? I think that is a dumb reason to take someone. Trade down to 5-15 and take whoever is left I say, get a second in the deal minimum, is that so unrealistic?

you can't really plan around the idea of having the #1 draft pick next year or even really a top 5. So you have to decide if you think one of the quarterbacks in this class or Jimmy Clausen (or a FA) has a better chance of developing into that elite franchise passer the team wants. Then you have to weigh other needs too to figure out, even if Jimmy doesn't turn into an elite guy, if he'll be decent enough that you would be better off going elsewhere.

[Lumps]

you can't really plan around the idea of having the #1 draft pick next year or even really a top 5..

So you'd feel safer picking Newton and not knowing the future than getting away with Green Peterson or Fairley? The unforeseeable future is even more reason not to take Newton. Maybe not for some teams but at #1 overall, that should matter to some extent. If three is still no terms by draft I would really like to see a defensive player taken. Really just going to have to wait and see.

[TheWiz]

Big Risk?

Cam Newton- (6'6, 250 lbs) 30 TD's, 2859 Passing yards, 182 passer rating, Heisman Trophy winner. Led his team to National Championship.

Your Biggest Need is QB... And Andrew Luck is not coming out.

Jimmy Clausen had ALL SEASON to show SOMETHING. And he showed... nothing.

Soo... we draft Nick Fairley?

Makes plenty of sense...

[TheWiz]

The thing about this draft is that NONE of the players may be worth picking at #1 since Andrew Luck is not coming out. You have to draft based on your needs, not based upon what pick you have. Every player has risks. Someone could get hurt the 1st day of practice, but you dont draft on "what ifs." You draft on "what is." And Cam Newton IS the real deal.

[mav1234]

College stats mean next to nothing. College wins only show a guy can win, and while they're good to have, it doesn't really matter that he won the national championship in the NFL. The Heisman especially is a terrible barometer for success.

You are right that any draft pick is a risk, because there is a transition to the NFL style of game. Any position will have transition time. However, QB (and I hear WR) is a hard NFL position to learn. It's a big, big transition for a guy who comes from the spread, let alone an option spread. When that guy has also only had one season, you also don't have a ton of film on him (which imo is why he should throw at the combine).

Last season we drafted a QB with our first overall pick. He had a bad season on a bad team. Have the coaches given up on him? Has the FO? Do they think Cam is enough of an upgrade over him to take him? Or do they think they can upgrade a different position? It's possible that a couple veteran QBs and a change in coaching could really alter our QB situation... but so too could a draft pick.

I'm glad I don't need to make these decisions, but I see why the FO might not take Cam Newton as things stand now.

[Guild]

We don't know that drafting Newton won't result in another "lousy" year.

I do.

Salvia made me see the future.

[mav1234]

Who did we draft, Kral?

[nationsford]

There's also no guarantee that the QBs available in this draft are worth picking at number one. In fact, a lot of analysts will tell you they're not.

Again, Clausen is going to get his shot this year. people need to get used to that idea, regardless of whether they like it or not. Draft and free agent philosophy will take that into account.

wrong again...

Quarterback: "We need to find if we have that franchise quarterback." If they don't, Rivera says they have to draft him or hire him.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/02/10/2052768/rivera-brings-energy-strong-grip.html#ixzz1DlcffZBP

bro bro being in front of the public you have to be politically correct (nice) about other people, of course hes not gonna step on players toes. The fact that keeps taking "we still got to see if we got a franchise qb" makes me think he doesnt think highly of clausen, and he would probly tell you that in private.

[mav1234]

wrong again...

Quarterback: "We need to find if we have that franchise quarterback." If they don't, Rivera says they have to draft him or hire him.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/02/10/2052768/rivera-brings-energy-strong-grip.html#ixzz1DlcffZBP

bro bro being in front of the public you have to be politically correct (nice) about other people, of course hes not gonna step on players toes. The fact that keeps taking "we still got to see if we got a franchise qb" makes me think he doesnt think highly of clausen, and he would probly tell you that in private.

That's good, but Hurney is the one calling the shots on draft day. If Hurney still believes Clausen can be great, we'll go elsewhere... and I bet Rivera will be on board with it, because Rivera knows that while Clausen was bad last year, he wasn't the only one. He just was the worst.

They won't go into next year with only Clausen as an option. They'll bring in a couple others to compete. It may end up with Pike on the practice squad and Clausen at #2.

[nationsford]

Newton is not a guy who can start from day one. Neither is any other QB on the board.

neither is clausen, and i would like to see you try to argue clausen has a better skill set than cam. I would like to add that clausen has proved hes not a day one starter saying cam isn't is just assuming.

[monstercat]

That's good, but Hurney is the one calling the shots on draft day. If Hurney still believes Clausen can be great, we'll go elsewhere... and I bet Rivera will be on board with it, because Rivera knows that while Clausen was bad last year, he wasn't the only one. He just was the worst.

They won't go into next year with only Clausen as an option. They'll bring in a couple others to compete. It may end up with Pike on the practice squad and Clausen at #2.

First of all, I hope like hell that Hurney is calling all the shots on draft day, otherwise we just wasted a lot of time and effort by hiring a whole new coaching staff. Secondly, Hurney also said that QB was the #1 priority. Why would he say that if he had complete confidence in Clausen?

[chef17]

wrong again...

Quarterback: "We need to find if we have that franchise quarterback." If they don't, Rivera says they have to draft him or hire him.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/02/10/2052768/rivera-brings-energy-strong-grip.html#ixzz1DlcffZBP

bro bro being in front of the public you have to be politically correct (nice) about other people, of course hes not gonna step on players toes. The fact that keeps taking "we still got to see if we got a franchise qb" makes me think he doesnt think highly of clausen, and he would probly tell you that in private.

Maybe that just makes he wants to see what Clausen can do before he gets rid of him. As a new coach, that would make sense.

[mav1234]

First of all, I hope like hell that Hurney is calling all the shots on draft day, otherwise we just wasted a lot of time and effort by hiring a whole new coaching staff. Secondly, Hurney also said that QB was the #1 priority. Why would he say that if he had complete confidence in Clausen?

He doesn't. How could he?

But that doesn't mean they are ready to invest our top pick in a quarterback. You MUST have complete confidence in a QB if you take them first overall. They may rather see what Clausen has in camp before they decide if they should abandon the project or not, because they can address other areas with the first pick.