Cam Newton Will Throw at NFL Combine, Blaine Gabbert Will Not

After being on the fence about what exactly he would do at the combine, NFL Network is reporting that Cam Newton will in fact throw and do the rest of the drills at the NFL combine starting February 23rd.

It’s a great decision for Newton because there will be a lot of scouts questioning his abilities as a quarterback. There is no doubt the kid is a playmaker, but he falls into the same trap as guys like Vince Young and Michael Vick before him.

The biggest question he will have to answer is whether or not he can be a pocket-passer. If he can make some good throws at the combine, that will go a long way. He will have his Pro Day to also make an impression, but a lot of what is done at a Pro Day is discounted because it takes place in a player’s comfort zone with guys he knows.

He won’t be in that situation once he’s in the NFL, so teams really use the Pro Days to confirm what they’ve seen from a player at the combine or on game film.

Conversely, the guy who most consider to be the best quarterback of this class, Blaine Gabbert, has decided he will not throw according to Jim Corbett of USA Today.

Gabbert will, however, take part in the other drills.

The other two guys challenging Newton and Gabbert as the first quarterback off the board — Ryan Mallett and Jake Locker — are expected to throw, so this decision could really hurt Gabbert.

If those guys come out at the combine and throw well, they could overtake Gabbert on a few big boards as he sits out.

Colin Kaepernick, who most consider a second-round talent, will also throw while Christian Ponder will take the same route as Gabbert and sit out the throwing drills at the combine.