NFL Draft: Ranking the last 20 No. 1 overall draft picks
By Kyle Edmond
No. 3 – Cam Newton, Quarterback, Carolina Panthers, 2011 NFL Draft
Despite recent struggles and currently being a free agent, Cam Newton has put together one of the more impressive resumes for a first overall pick over the last 20 years. The 2015 season was by far the best of Newton’s career.
Ending with a Super Bowl 50 appearance, Newton collected the MVP as well as the AP Offensive Player of the Year, being a Pro Bowler and named First-Team All-Pro.
With nine seasons under his belt, all with Carolina, Newton added to his 2015 season with two more Pro Bowls (2011, 2013) and being the 2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year. Despite all those accolades, he still finds himself without a team.
Part of the could be due to his recent injuries, but those haven’t been a trend of his career. Over his nine seasons, he’s played in all 16 games five times, including each of his first three seasons.
Additionally, he’s started 14 games during three seasons, leaving last season as the only time he played in less than 14 games, seeing the field in just two.
Newton has reached a career crossroads, but up to this point he has held is own at the top of the 2011 class. Von Miller, Julio Jones, and others from the class have also had strong careers, but none of them accomplished what Newton has over the last nine seasons.