Scouting Report: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

Ht: 6-6 Wt: 250 40: 4.52

Strengths: Elite size and athletic ability. Tough to bring down. Has a big arm. Very quick and elusive for his size. Accurate with the football. He can make every throw that an NFL QB needs to make. Is able to extend plays. He is an unbelievable playmaker. There are no questions about his talent level. He has top 15 talent. He is a proven winner (has won where ever he went).

Weaknesses: Tons of questions surrounding him. Maturity? Leadership? Experience? Football IQ? He is coming out of a simple offense; mainly one look drops. Relies too often on his athleticism to make plays rather than checking down to WRs. There is doubt as to how long it will take him to adapt to a complex NFL offense. NFL teams will also be addressing some questions about him as a person such as: what kind of person is he? Hard worker? Will he be able to be a good leader? The QB position is the most important position on the field. He is the leader of your team so this is probably the most important attribute to a young QB. You need to address all these concern before taking a shot on a QB in the first round. He got into minor trouble at Florida early in his career before he transferred to Auburn. Throwing mechanics could be improved.

Summary: Cam Newton has quickly become a star for the Auburn Tigers. He has the size and athleticism that has never been seen before. Strictly from a talent level, he is a top 15 pick. There is no question about that. From the other side of scouting him, teams need to find out what kind of player and person he is. Is he going to put in extra time with his receivers? Can he learn the NFL offense? Will he stay after and watch film and study it? He could have all the talent in the world, but that isn't all that scouting entails. He needs to be a strong leader and the face of a franchise. Teams need to find that out about Newton. Despite these concerns, there is no one doubting the fact that this young man can play. He is such a unique player, and teams will fall in love with his talent. He will probably be drafted in the top 20 picks.

Draft Projection: Top 20