For years, Cam Newton was one of the league's most dynamic quarterbacks.
After being drafted first overall in 2011, Newton won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, and within his first five years in the league, had won an MVP, made three Pro Bowls and taken the Panthers to the Super Bowl. His exceptional talent throwing and running the ball helped usher in the latest wave of dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL.
Twelve years later, Newton will be waiting to see if another member of his family is drafted by an NFL team. Newton's younger brother, William & Mary wide receiver Caylin Newton, is officially done with college after spending time at Howard, Auburn and most recently with the Tribe.
Caylin Newton might not get drafted at all. But the standout special teams performer could have some untapped upside if a team is willing to give him a look at receiver.
TSN'S NFL DRAFT HQ
Live picks tracker | 7-round mock draft | Top 200 big board
Here's what you need to know about Caylin Newton heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.
Caylin Newton NFL Draft scouting report
There aren't necessarily a lot of advanced scouting reports on Newton out there. He played quarterback for his first three years in college and did not have a full season as a wide receiver until his sixth collegiate season, which came at William & Mary in 2022.
But there is reason to think he could be a name to watch late in the draft, or as an undrafted free agent. CBS Sports' Emory Hunt described him as a slot receiver and a "very good special teams player" who did well at the 2023 Tropical Bowl in January to help get his name more on the radar.
Great grab here by @WMTribeFootball WR Caylin Newton pic.twitter.com/jJ0Xg1sASn
— Emory Hunt (@FBallGameplan) January 20, 2023
Newton did not participate in the NFL Combine, but here's a look at his measurables, according to Sports Illustrated.
| Category | Measurable |
|---|---|
| Height | 5-10 6/8 |
| Weight | 205 |
| Hand | 9 6/8 |
| Arm | 31 5/8 |
| Wing | 7-6 5/8 |
| 40 | 4.61 |
Ras Football isn't overly high on Newton's performances, with him earning a score of 0.78 on a scale of 0 to 10. The best comparable listed for him is Jarvis Landry, who had underwhelming performances at the combine and yet has become a three-time, 1,000-yard receiver in the NFL. The other four players, however, did not record time in the NFL.
Newton had a chance to show off his pass-catching skills at Auburn's pro day before the draft, when his brother came out to throw him and other players passes in front of scouts.
“This was him showing love to me,” Caylin Newton said, according to the Associated Press. “He doesn’t owe anybody anything. He has had an amazing journey, an amazing career in the NFL. He has nothing to prove to anybody. ... He came to show his ability, show he still has it.
“I think, for him, this was a selfless act. But it was also to show and prove to everybody he’s not sitting around. He’s still got it. Whatever organization wants to get a winning quarterback, his number’s still open and available.”
MORE: Cam Newton lists 12 NFL quarterbacks he wouldn't mind backing up in 2023
Caylin Newton stats
Newton has bounced around between schools and roles during his collegiate career. Coming out of high school, 247Sports Composite Rankings graded the Georgia dual-threat quarterback as a three-star recruit and the No. 1,945 player in the 2017 class.
Newton committed to Howard as a quarterback, and he didn't take long to carve out a role with the team. He was the starter under center in 2017 and completed 133 of 263 passes for 2,432 yards with 13 touchdowns and 12 picks. He also rushed 166 times for 753 yards and 12 touchdowns. He began that season by pulling off one of the biggest upsets in college football history, leading Howard over 45-point favorite UNLV in a 43-40 stunner.
The next season, he completed 156 of 304 passes for 2,629 yards with 22 touchdowns and 17 picks, while rushing for 504 yards on 156 carries and scoring four touchdowns.
After playing in only four games in 2019, Newton decided to redshirt at Howard and later announced his intention to transfer. He wound up following his brother's footsteps, going to play at Auburn as a graduate transfer.
With the Tigers, Newton was primarily a special teams contributor. He was on the kickoff return team in 2020 before stepping up in 2021. During that campaign, he blocked a punt against Georgia State that wound up being recovered for a touchdown, tipped a punt against Mississippi State and made his first catch for the team, a 31-yard grab against Georgia.
Following the 2021 season, Newton again made the decision to transfer, heading to William & Mary where he was reunited with his former Howard head coach, Mike London. With the Tribe, Newton saw extended action both at wide receiver and as a returner.
Newton finished the 2022 season with 37 catches for 537 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He also returned 19 punts for 135 yards, while making 11 total tackles, including one that forced a fumble. For the year, he was named to All-Colonial Athletic Association first team as a specialist, and had the opportunity to play in the Tropical Bowl.
