The Carolina Panthers nearly dropped the ball in 2011.
That was the year Carolina drafted quarterback Cam Newton, who since has evolved into one of the NFL’s most dynamic players. But according to Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, the organization actually considered taking Blaine Gabbert over Newton with the No. 1 overall pick.
“Remember, we had the No. 1 pick, and we were talking quarterback,” Rivera said of the 2011 draft, according to The Mercury News. “And it came down to Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert. Those were the two guys we targeted and looked at, and looked at really, really hard.”
Gabbert eventually was selected 10th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars and never made an impact in his three seasons with the team. The Jags traded him to the San Francisco 49ers before the 2014 season for a sixth-round draft pick. He’s now expected to compete with Colin Kaepernick for the starting quarterback job in the Bay Area.
“I got to interview both guys (Gabbert and Kaepernick), and we really studied Blaine,” Rivera said, via The Mercury News. “I can see where Blaine could really capture the (locker) room. He’s likable. He’s high energy. Big effort. Not satisfied.”
The 2011 draft was loaded, as Von Miller, J.J. Watt, Patrick Peterson, A.J. Green, Julio Jones and Muhammad Wilkerson were among those selected in the first round in addition to Newton and Gabbert. The Panthers definitely can’t complain with their selection, though, especially knowing the road almost traveled when targeting a franchise quarterback.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
