With the First Pick in the 2011 Dawgs By Nature Mock Draft, the Carolina Panthers Select...

Are you ready for the start of our first annual Dawgs By Nature Community Mock Draft? Let's get things going with the first team who was on the clock, the Carolina Panthers. With the first pick in the draft, the Panthers select...

Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn

This selection and write-up was made by BrownDawg1409:

Cameron Newton has the potential to be a huge stud in this league. He has all of the measurables you look for in a quarterback (height, arm strength, build) as well as some of the intangibles (accuracy).  In fact, the only thing I can find fault with are the "character issues" everyone likes to bring up. The guy is a freak of an athlete in the mold of a Vick/Roethlisberger hybrid.

I made this pick projecting that a rookie salary cap will be imposed on the 2011 draft class, whether it's imposed retroactively or because the CBA gets done before then. With a lot less money being committed to unproven rookies, Carolina now has the luxury to gamble on a guy who has a phenomenal upside of talent and possible "character issues" with a significantly lower "this is going to bite us in the ass if this doesn't work" factor.

The Panthers don't really have any other options but to start Newton as soon as he walks into camp. Carolina already has a phenomenal running game and a good offensive line, which will keep the pressure off of him. Newton also adds the threat of a third runner, which I expect he'll be doing a little more often than he'd like as he gets used to the game. I can easily see Newton as being the spark this team needs to jump back into playoff contention and winning Rookie of the Year.

I didn't think we'd be seeing a quarterback go first overall after Andrew Luck's announcement, but the pick still makes sense because the Panthers were atrocious at the quarterback position last year. I don't think the team should waste any time trying to develop Jimmy Clausen. Unfortunately for Carolina, it will be difficult to see if a guy like Carson Palmer will be available to them once the lockout begins. They need a quarterback who do well in a division that already has the explosive Drew Brees and the talented youngsters Matt Ryan and Josh Freeman, and Newton could be that guy.

The Denver Broncos are on the clock next (email has been sent to Bernie19Kosar).