2011 NFL Draft
Cam Newton Goes #1 — And Actually Delivers
What Happened vs What Should've Happened
Compare the original draft order with career-based re-rankings
The Scenario
Cam Newton went #1 despite "character concerns" and "spread offense" doubts. Von Miller went #2. Blaine Gabbert went #10 because he was "pro-ready." Newton became MVP. Gabbert became a meme. This draft proved the old guard wrong about everything.
Cam Newton
Pick #1 • Panthers
Von Miller
Pick #2 • Broncos
Blaine Gabbert
Pick #10 • Jaguars
Cam Newton → Carolina Panthers (#1)
| Factor | Rating | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC (Ron Rivera) | 80/100 | 15% | 12.0 |
| OC (Rob Chudzinski) | 75/100 | 18% | 13.5 |
| Scheme Adaptation | 85/100 | 15% | 12.8 |
| Skill Weapons (Steve Smith) | 75/100 | 15% | 11.3 |
| Freedom to Run | 90/100 | 12% | 10.8 |
| Ownership | 70/100 | 15% | 10.5 |
| Market | 65/100 | 10% | 6.5 |
| TOTAL FIT SCORE | 77.8 | ||
What Happened
Carolina didn't try to make Cam a pocket passer. They built around his unique skillset — read option, designed runs, play action. ROY with 4,000+ passing and 700+ rushing yards. 2015 MVP and Super Bowl appearance. Changed how the NFL viewed dual-threat QBs forever.
Von Miller → Denver Broncos (#2)
| Factor | Rating | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC (John Fox) | 75/100 | 12% | 9.0 |
| DC (Dennis Allen → Wade Phillips) | 95/100 | 20% | 19.0 |
| System Fit (3-4 OLB) | 95/100 | 18% | 17.1 |
| Supporting Cast (defense) | 90/100 | 15% | 13.5 |
| Franchise Stability | 85/100 | 15% | 12.8 |
| Market (Denver) | 80/100 | 10% | 8.0 |
| Ownership (Bowlen) | 85/100 | 10% | 8.5 |
| TOTAL FIT SCORE | 88.2 | ||
What Happened
Denver put Von in Wade Phillips' system and let him hunt quarterbacks. Super Bowl MVP dismantling Cam Newton in SB50. 8x Pro Bowl, 3x First Team All-Pro, future Hall of Famer.The best pure pass rusher of his generation.
Blaine Gabbert → Jacksonville Jaguars (#10)
| Factor | Rating | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC (Jack Del Rio) | 40/100 | 15% | 6.0 |
| Offensive Line | 20/100 | 20% | 4.0 |
| Skill Weapons | 25/100 | 18% | 4.5 |
| Organization Direction | 20/100 | 15% | 3.0 |
| Draft Evaluation | 25/100 | 15% | 3.8 |
| Ownership | 30/100 | 10% | 3.0 |
| Mental Toughness | 25/100 | 7% | 1.8 |
| TOTAL FIT SCORE | 21.8 | ||
What Happened
Jacksonville was dysfunctional, gave Gabbert nothing, and broke him mentally. He developed a fear of pressure, couldn't process quickly, and became a meme ("Blaine Gabbert????").He was labeled "pro-ready" because he was white and played in a pro-style offense. The scouting was lazy.
The QB Comparison
Von (DEN)
SB MVP, HOF
Cam (CAR)
MVP, pioneer
Gabbert (JAX)
"Pro-ready" bust
Point swing: Cam (#1 CAR) vs. Gabbert (#10 JAX)
The Verdict
Traditional Re-Draft Says:
"Von #1, Cam #2, J.J. Watt #3"
Contextual Re-Draft Says:
"Cam needed Carolina's willingness to build around his style. Von needed Denver's defensive system. Gabbert was doomed by Jacksonville regardless."
The "character concern" QB became MVP. The "pro-ready" QB became a punchline.This draft proved that old scouting biases were wrong — and context beats labels every time.