The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft will take place tonight at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City; the event will be broadcast live on ESPN and the NFL Network. The second and third rounds of the draft will take place on Friday, April 29th while rounds 4-7 will be held on Saturday, April 30th. Tonight's first pick belongs to the Panthers, who are followed by the Broncos, Bills, Bengals, and Cardinals. The latest 2011 NFL Draft Odds are favoring Carolina to select Auburn quarterback Cam Newton No. 1 overall at -400 moneyline odds.
Despite selecting Notre Dame signal caller Jimmy Clausen in last year's draft, the Panthers are expected to take another 
quarterback this evening with the first overall selection. Carolina, which finished 2-14 last season, definitely needs a change of pace on offense after ranking dead last in both points and yards per game.
While there are plenty of questions surrounding Cam Newton, both on and off the field, the general consensus seems to be that he is the top quarterback in the draft. Newton, who threw for 30 touchdowns and rushed for 20 at Auburn last year, has some competition for the top spot, though.
There are a number of other quality passers in this year's draft class, including Missouri's Blaine Gabbert, Arkansas' Ryan Mallet, and Washington's Jake Locker. Gabbert and Newton have received the most run in the lead up to tonight's proceedings, which means Carolina and the other clubs picking inside the top five are probably looking at those two with greater interest.
The Panthers also have a number of other needs as well, especially along the defensive line and in the secondary. If they believe Clausen has what it takes but just needs a little more time under center, the franchise may elect to go after LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson or Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus.
While Peterson and Dareus are definite possibilities for Carolina, the safe bet is Newton. Despite his obvious baggage and questions about his ability to perform in a pro style offense, he is the most talented player in the draft. History has also proven that the most highly regarded signal callers rarely make it to the second pick.
2011 NFL Draft Odds: First Pick
Cam Newton -400
Marcell Dareus +300
Blaine Gabbert +1000
Patrick Peterson +1500
