Panthers Take Cam Newton #1 Overall

With the first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers select...Cam Newton, quarterback from Auburn University.  That's how it went Thursday night in Radio City Music Hall in New York City, as the NFL kicked off their 2011 draft.  In Newton's interview following his selection he mentioned "it's a great feeling to be a Carolina Panther," and that "It's time to get to work now."  Newton's first overall selection makes him the 3rd straight quarterback to be selected number one overall, and the 15th taken first in the last 25 years.

Newton really may not have been the surprise of the night though, as others like Jake Locker (QB-Washington) and Aldon Smith (DE-Missouri) were drafted much earlier than projected.  Also, projected early pick Da'Quan Bowers, from Clemson fell completely out of the first round and will have to wait until tomorrow to hear his name called.  Here is a recap of the first round:

ROUND 1
Pick	Team	Player	Position	School
1	Carolina Panthers	Cam Newton	QB	Auburn
2	Denver Broncos	Von Miller	LB	Texas A&M
3	Buffalo Bills	Marcell Dareus	DT	Alabama
4	Cincinnati Bengals	A.J. Green	WR	Georgia
5	Arizona Cardinals	Patrick Peterson	DB	LSU
6	Atlanta Falcons (from Browns)	Julio Jones	WR	Alabama
7	San Francisco 49ers	Aldon Smith	DE	Missouri
8	Tennessee Titans	Jake Locker	QB	Washington
9	Dallas Cowboys	Tyron Smith	T	Southern California
10	Jacksonville Jaguars (from Redskins)	Blaine Gabbert	QB	Missouri
11	Houston Texans	J.J. Watt	DE	Wisconsin
12	Minnesota Vikings	Christian Ponder	QB	Florida State
13	Detroit Lions	Nick Fairley	DT	Auburn
14	St. Louis Rams	Robert Quinn	DE	North Carolina
15	Miami Dolphins	Mike Pouncey	C	Florida
16	Washington Redskins (from Jaguars)	Ryan Kerrigan	DE	Purdue
17	New England Patriots (from Raiders)	Nate Solder	T	Colorado
18	San Diego Chargers	Corey Liuget	DT	Illinois
19	New York Giants	Prince Amukamara	DB	Nebraska
20	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Adrian Clayborn	DE	Iowa
21	Cleveland Browns (from Chiefs)	Phil Taylor	NT	Baylor
22	Indianapolis Colts	Anthony Castonzo	T	Boston College
23	Philadelphia Eagles	Danny Watkins	G	Baylor
24	New Orleans Saints	Cameron Jordan	DE	California
25	Seattle Seahawks	James Carpenter	T	Alabama
26	Kansas City Chiefs (from Falcons via Browns)	Jon Baldwin	WR	Pittsburgh
27	Baltimore Ravens (passed at No. 26)	Jimmy Smith	DB	Colorado
28	New Orleans Saints (from Patriots)	Mark Ingram	RB	Alabama
29	Chicago Bears	Gabe Carimi	T	Wisconsin
30	New York Jets	Muhammad Wilkerson	DT	Temple
31	Pittsburgh Steelers	Cameron Heyward	DE	Ohio State
32	Green Bay Packers	Derek Sherrod	T	Mississippi State