NEW YORK — By virtue of taking Cam Newton with the first overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Panthers have put their stock in the Auburn QB developing into a franchise player. So Newton was the pick, but now the question is, was he the right pick?

Time will tell, but as Vic Carucci pointed out, the pressure is now on the Panthers’ coaching staff. While snap judgments are nothing more than snap judgments, NFL Network analyst Kurt Warner isn’t convinced Newton was the right pick.

“I think he’s the most dynamic player in this draft, but as far as being the most effective pro, I don’t think so. I don’t see it,” Warner said. “I think he has too much work to do. Maybe it’s the pick they had to make, but I don’t know if it was the right pick for the Panthers.”

In having this conversation with Warner several times, he believes Super Bowls are won with quarterbacks who can play from the pocket, something Newton will have to prove.

“I don’t think he’s a franchise quarterback, definitely not at this time,” Warner added. “It has yet to be seen whether he will get there, but I think it will be very, very difficult.”

– Frank Tadych

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