David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jarrett Boykin says Cam Newton has all the tools to be the best quarterback in the NFL.
Boykin knows what it’s like to catch passes from the best. He has spent the past three seasons with four-time Pro Bowl selection Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.
Ex-Packers receiver Jarrett Boykin said Cam Newton’s arm strength and leadership skills are comparable to what Aaron Rodgers possesses. AP Photo/Chuck Burton
“They both have great, tremendous arms,’’ Boykin said Sunday after Carolina’s first practice in pads. “Cam has the ability to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
“He brings that mentality every day and gases everybody up. You can tell he wants to be the best. He has all the potential in the world to be the best.’’
Not only is Boykin impressed with Newton’s arm strength, which he ranked with that of Rodgers’, but he’s impressed with the leadership of Carolina’s fifth-year quarterback.
“… Just the way he rallied everybody in Baltimore,’’ Boykin said of a two-week period Newton set aside to work with his receivers at the Under Armour facility prior to training camp. “Just taking the initiative to get the people together and focus on one main goal. He knows exactly what he wants. Once you get everybody aboard on the same page, everything is the best.’’
Whether or not Boykin will be around Carolina to watch Newton reach the level he predicts for him remains to be seen. Boykin is locked in a tight battle for the fifth and sixth receiver spots.
His path to the 53-man roster became a little bit easier when Stephen Hill suffered a season-ending ACL injury on Saturday. Hill was in the mix with Boykin and Brenton Bersin.
Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, Ted Ginn Jr., Corey Brown and Jerricho Cotchery are close to locks at this point.
Boykin seemed like a lock at Green Bay two years ago, catching 49 passes for 681 yards. He was the team’s third receiver until an early-season injury and the emergence of Davante Adams last year made him expendable.
The Panthers signed Boykin to a one-year deal during the offseason. He didn’t make a huge impression in offseason workouts, but he’s starting to emerge with a few eye-catching catches in training camp.
Newton caught Boykin’s eye from the start. He doesn’t question Newton’s accuracy, which statistically is far from Rodgers’.
Rodgers has a career completion percentage of 65.8, completing a career-best 71.4 percent in 2007. Newton’s career percentage is 59.5 percent.
“Cam throws a fantastic ball,’’ Boykin said. “He knows where he wants it any time. It’s up to the receiver to get open and make that play.’’