Can Cam Newton play in the NFL?

So let the comparisons begin, they already were being compared in college but what will make Cam Newton any different from Tim Tebow? They both can run, they both are effective in the pass, and they both are freaks of nature that desire to be the best but who has the advantage? Tim Tebow really made a name for himself as being the high character guy with great ability, honestly there may not be anyone who works as hard as Tebow but he had many doubters and when you have doubters it seems to push you a little more. Cam Newton I believe will have his struggles in the next level as many rookies do but there is just something about him that makes me think he will succeed. Let’s look at him, he is tall standing at 6’6”, it will be easy for him to look over that defensive line. He is big, weighing in at 245-250 lbs. he is a load to bring down and if he gets to the second level of the defense he knows how to punish those corners and safeties. He is a play maker, he not only can make plays with his arm but he also can make plays with his feet. Newton honestly could be the quarterback of the future, like it or not he can throw, run, and even catch when he needs to, he is just multi-talented and it seems effortless.

With Tebow there were many unknowns coming into the draft, with throwing motion, height, etc… with Newton it will be grasping the fast paced NFL game and teaching him to throw first, run second and under the right coach and coordinator he will be successful. Can Newton do in the NFL what he did in one year of college, (honestly Cam Newton was non existent before coming to Auburn) so where do we go from here? He has won plenty of awards, but we know how Heisman winning quarterbacks fair in the NFL. He has won a National Championship and he has gone through adversity (with the pay for play scandal) but can he go to the next level and be larger than life?

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2010 Stats (with Auburn)

Passing: 185 for 280, 66.1 percent, 2854 yards, 30 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, 182 rating

Rushing: 264 attempts, 1473 yards, 20 touchdowns

Receiving: 2 receptions, 42 yards, 1 touchdown

In my opinion, there will be a team to pick Newton and I see him going in mid to late first round (just as Tebow did). It will be beneficial if he is drafted to a team that has a good veteran quarterback already in place, so he can learn the game, I truly believe that is what helped Tebow in his late season success. Many times the stage has been too big for many young players coming out of college but if he is able to learn the game and catch on to the pace he will flourish in the NFL. Cam Newton is a tremendous talent with the speed of Randall Cunningham and the arm of Drew Bledsoe but can he make it work, better yet can a team that takes him be patient and develop his skills here in the NFL, only time will tell.

By Sam Adams
Pro Football Fans Staff Writer