Mariota or Winston?

Whoever would have guessed that that draft would have been that great? Newton, Miller, Dareus, Green, Peterson, Jones, Aldon Smith, Tyron Smith, JJ Watt....

Three busts in the top 12 picks: Locker, Gabbert and Ponder.

 

I would argue that part of the reason is because the Panthers haven't hired a decent OC since Chudzinski left.

 

I'd argue that 1) Newton has gotten better. And 2) The talent around his has gotten significantly worse because of the Panther's salary cap issues.

 

Newton is far from perfect as a QB, but of the QBs who have entered the league in the last five years, I'd take him over anyone but Luck or Wilson.

 

The idea that if a QB who's a high draft pick doesn't turn out to be as good as Brady or P. Manning they must be a bust is ridiculous. Newton has been well worth the pick for the Panthers. They're sure not in the playoffs two of the last three years without him.

 

I think Newton is scheduled to be out of the league next year or somebody's backup.

 

I just read somewhere a list of free agent QBs and the number one rating went to Mark Sanchez. Given that, it's hard to believe both these guys won't go very high in the first round.

 

I think I'd take a flier on Locker before Sanchez, personally. (Though, yeah, I'd draft Winston or Mariota, if I had the option, over signing Locker).

 

I don't think there is a single free agent QB who can make a significant impact as a NFL starter next season.

Is Arizona banking on Palmer coming back? Considering the talent on the rest of the team, that would be a team I could see trying to trade for someone.

 

Who said he was a bust?

And the Panthers made the playoffs last year because of their defense and this past season because the division sucked.

Newton has shown flashes, but he's too inconsistent. Not a good-enough passer.

 

Let's not forget the obvious. Since Newton arrived, the Panthers have been basically a .500 team. But they were able to draft Newton because prior to that, they were the worst team in the NFL. From worst to marginal playoff team is a big jump, and he's had a lot to do with it.

 

I don't think Newton is a bad QB, but what I've seen the past few seasons tells me his ceiling is not as high as many seem to think it is.