Biggest Surprise: #1-Cam Newton, Carolina Panther. Comparing Newton to the last couple first overall pick quarterbacks, Sam Bradford and Mathew Stafford, I’m guessing most teams would have ranked Newton at the bottom. He is obviously a physically gifted player at 6’6 and 240, with a very good touch on his football and speed to burn. Similarly, Newton looked like a man amongst boys in college winning the Heisman trophy and leading Auburn to a National Championship and undefeated season. However, when Newton declared for the draft no one talked about a perennial #1 pick because the concerns were pretty clear; he has character concerns (just look at the picture) and probably isn’t the type to take one for the good of the team (he was scared of backing up Tebow and transferred from Florida). Nonetheless, expectations are going to be low for the Panthers next year, and Newton should start from day 1 and give Carolina some fire power. NFL Comparison: Vince Young.
#8 Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans. It’s hard to make the call of the worst pick of the draft because it’s purely speculation. Locker probably would have gone #1 last year had he come out, but he went back to Washington and looked decent during his senior year. With the guy every scout had as the best quarterback, or at least what I heard Blaine Gabbert still on the board, this pick is a bit of a question mark. Maybe Tennessee knows he’s got a hot girlfriend to help him through the year, but I doubt he make an impact this year. NFL Comparison: David Carr. Minnesota’s pick, Christian Ponder also could go here.
#13 Nick Fairley, Detroit Lions. I honestly cannot grasp Fairley going to my favorite team and paired with Ndamakung Suh. I’m about to wet myself just thinking about how nasty their defense line is going to be. It’s very possible they are already the best in the league and certainly one of the most intimidating. Although I was praying for Prince Amukamara with the pick (Detroit has major secondary concerns), almost no one saw Fairley going to Detroit and falling this far. Most mock drafts had the guy going in the top 5. I can’t believe so many teams passed him up but I’m pretty stoked he is coming to Detroit and no one named Matt Millen was able to screw up this pick (or so I hope). NFL Comparison: Albert Haynesworth.
