FanPost

Vince's Views- Cam Newton and Jonathan Baldwin


What a boring week in the world of sports. I switched my radio from 640 sports to Pandora more times than I can remember this week, which almost never happens. Honestly, all I heard about was how the Lakers don't care about playing basketball because they are bored. And they expect us to care?

I laughed when I read Mel Kiper Jr's most recent mock draft. It's not the most ridiculous pick in the world (although it is eerily similar to the Jamarcus Russell pick of 2006). But the Bills spent a top ten pick on a situational runningback in last year's draft. Now they are going to spend a top five pick on a project quarterback? Come on, Mr. Kiper.

Cam Newton

NFL general managers have a history of drafting quarterbacks high. But they usually draft pocket passers who fit a certain prototype (size, arm strength, intelligence, intangibles). Every so often a "dual threat" quarterback will gain some momentum and be drafted high (Vince Young, third overall, 2006). But these players generally don't make the transition very well, and it's for a good reason. In college, they can rely on their athleticism to dominate the game and coaches generally don't work tirelessly to turn them into a "NFL quality quarterback".

It's the guys who have to work to become great that eventually become successful quarterbacks in the NFL. Matt Ryan wasn't going to win any games with his legs in college. He might be able to scramble for a few yards here and there, but if he was going to win, it was going to be with his arm and his decision making. The same can be said for just about every starting quarterback in the NFL. Yes, some are more mobile than others. And I have made the point that the new breed of NFL quarterback is going to be able to win with his legs as well. But first and foremost, a quarterback must be a pocket passer.

Cam Newton could end up being a terrific NFL quarterback. But so could Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett or Christian Ponder. If Buffalo pulls the trigger and drafts Newton third overall, it could set back their organization by five years. Which wouldn't be so bad, considering they are a division rival.

Jonathan Baldwin

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If I were the GM of the Dolphins, i'd be planning to trade down and target Torrey Smith in the late first round. I'm a big fan of this prospect and he seems to be a great fit for Miami's needs. However, nothing in the draft is guaranteed. The Dolphins may not be able to trade down, and Torrey Smith might not last to wherever they trade down to. With that being said, I would like to spotlight another receiver who hasn't been receiving much attention.

Baldwin, from Pitt, is 6"5 224 pounds. He is fast. He is projected to be a second round draft pick, especially with the plethora of elite defensive talent, and guys like A.J. Green, Julio Jones and Torrey Smith gaining momentum. Here are a couple of quotes from Scouts Inc. that make Baldwin sound like he could be the answer for the Dolphins:

On "Ball Skills":

Elite in this area. Displays natural and strong hands and catches the ball away from his frame. Body control is excellent and can make tough catch outside of frame look easy. At his best catching the ball up high where he can use his long arms and ability to elevate. Tracks the deep ball effortlessly and will cause matchup problems in one-on-one jump ball situations. Flashes ability to pull in acrobatic one-handed catch.

On "Big Play Ability":

Long strides provide him with deceiving top-end speed. Combined with ability to track deep ball makes him an immediate and legit vertical threat at the next level. Strong runner and can be tough to bring down in one-on-one situations in the open field. Displays an effective stiff arm. However, needs a seam to create a big gain after catch and lacks elite elusiveness to consistently make defenders miss in the open field.

Final Thoughts

I know that there are many Dolfans that want to see Cam Newton in a Dolphins uniform. I wouldn't mind it myself. He is a great athlete and he has shown some major determination by playing amidst character attacks. But at the same time, he is what he is, which is a project and a risk. He's not worth a number three pick and he's not worth a number fifteen pick. If Buffalo picks Newton third, they will be paying him upwards of fifty million dollars in guaranteed money. That's a lot of money to someone who will not start immediately and is not guaranteed to even be a productive starter.

If Torrey Smith is not available late in the first round, I would be inclined to lean towards someone like Jonathan Baldwin. Of course, he would have to have a good combine showing, but i'm impressed with what I have seen of him so far. Ideally, he would be available in the second round, but I think there is a good chance his draft stock will rise.

What do you guys think?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Phinsider's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of The Phinsider writers or editors.