With the Pro Day workouts at Arkansas and Auburn scheduled for the same day, coaches and General Managers will have to decide whether to eyeball Razorback quarterback Ryan Mallett or 2010 Heisman winner Cam Newton.
As we (OK, I) mentioned on PFT Live today, some teams may choose a destination based on the message that will be sent to other teams.
The team that holds the first overall pick doesn’t need to play games due to fear of being leapfrogged, but to the extent that the Panthers would be interested in trading the pick, there will be a certain amount of gamesmanship.
Game or not, Panthers coach Ron Rivera has picked Auburn, according to Darin Gantt of the Charlotte Observer. With defensive tackle Nick Fairley also working out on the Auburn campus, there’s a chance that Rivera will be eyeballing both guys.
When Rivera visited PFT Live last month, he suggested that the Panthers will be based on defense and the running game. At the Scouting Combine, however, Rivera mentioned the importance of having a “franchise quarterback.”
Though it doesn’t mean the Panthers will be picking Newton at the top of the draft, it’s not a good sign for Jimmy Clausen.
