NFL players are usually harsh graders when asked to rate their peers. Defensive ends and linebackers won't rate as highly unless they're three-down players. Defensive tackles must factor against run and pass alike. For quarterbacks, producing consistently from within the pocket trumps athletic ability.
The QB scouting report a veteran cornerback provided for the Pittsburgh-Carolina game on Sunday night leads naturally into an early-season checkup on the Panthers' Cam Newton. I had asked the veteran corner to rate each NFL starting quarterback on a 1-to-5 scale, with "1" reserved for the players he considered to be "Tier 1" players. When we got to Newton, the corner painted two quarterbacks with a single analytical brush.
I've combined those thoughts with input from NFL insiders and one of Newton's strongest supporters for a more complete look at where the QB stands and where he is headed in the future.
Peer review: Where Newton stands