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Carolina Panthers have selected quarterback Cam Newton with the first overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft.
The star of the most recent college football season, Newton won the Heisman Trophy and led Auburn to a victory over Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game.
He set single-season Tigers records for passing touchdowns (30), most rushing scores (20), most rushing yards by a quarterback (1,473), and most total yards of offense (4,327).
He also added 2,854 passing yards on 185-of-280 attempts, and did so while shaking off season-long drama that included accusations his father attempted a pay-for-play scheme to gain bids for his son's commitment.
The Panthers are certainly in need of quarterback help. They went 2-14 last season with Jimmy Clausen and Matt Moore under center, and finished with a total touchdown-to-interception ratio of 9-to-21.
"I feel great right now. It's like I had deja vu because I've been dreaming about this whole moment. For it to come to fruition is a wonder in itself," a grinning Newton said. "My work has paid off."
Newton took to the stage amid boos after being announced as the top pick by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who himself was booed when he formally began the event.
Goodell, of course, has played a pivotal role in the NFL labor dispute, which has dominated news surrounding the league in recent months.
The draft is one event that has gone on mostly as planned -- teams can trade picks Thursday, but not players -- as unsuccessful negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement and the lockout have disrupted the NFL's usual offseason patterns.
But the labor dispute loomed over the draft.
Goodell was booed as he stepped to the podium at Radio City Music Hall, responding with, "I got you."
He attempted to pump up fans in attendance by saying, "Let's get back to some football," but was showered with more boos.
But they ended fairly quickly as the Panthers went on the clock, and Goodell was back at the podium in short order to announce the first pick. Following Newton's selection, the Denver Broncos chose Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller with the second pick.
Miller, a senior this past season, won the 2010 Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker. He also made news in March by becoming a plaintiff in the antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, alongside star quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.
"I think I'm going to adjust pretty well," a confident Miller said. "At the end of the day when the ball is snapped, it's just about shedding blocks and making tackles."
Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was taken third by the Buffalo Bills after a standout career at Alabama. He was an anchor for a line that helped the Crimson Tide win the national title in 2009, and was named defensive MVP of the BCS championship game.
"I'm happy [the Bills] gave me a chance so I can show what I can do," Dareus said. "I never thought it would get to this point ... It's overwhelming."
Georgia's A.J. Green went fourth to Cincinnati, giving the Bengals a tall (6- foot-4) and polished wide receiver.
Arizona selected LSU cornerback and returner Patrick Peterson at No. 5. Peterson was the 2010 Bednarik and Thorpe Award winner and was considered the top defensive back in the draft class.
"He's got a tremendous combination of size and speed," said Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt of Peterson. "A lot of his skills translate well to the NFL."
The Atlanta Falcons traded up to the sixth pick to take Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. The selection initially belonged to the Cleveland Browns, who received five picks in return.
The Falcons gave up their first- (No. 27), second- (No. 59) and fourth-round (No. 124) picks this year, as well as their first- and fourth-round selections in 2012.
The San Francisco 49ers chose Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith seventh overall, while quarterback Jake Locker went off the board next to the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans made big changes this offseason, deciding to part ways with long- time head coach Jeff Fisher and Vince Young, who was once considered their quarterback of the future.
With Mike Munchak in as head coach, Tennessee has put its future in the hands of Locker, who returned for his senior season at Washington despite being projected as a top pick in the 2010 draft.
Locker, possessing a strong arm and good legs, holds the Huskies' record for career rushing yards by a quarterback (1,939).
After the Dallas Cowboys took USC defensive tackle Tyron Smith with the No. 9 pick, Washington dealt the 10th pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who traded up to grab Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert.
The Redskins received the No. 16 and No. 49 picks in return.
The Houston Texans chose Wisconsin defensive end JJ Watt with the 11th pick before the Minnesota Vikings chose Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder.
The Vikings' quarterback situation is up in the air, with Brett Favre retired and Tarvaris Jackson likely gone. Ponder will join a mix that includes Joe Webb and Rhett Bomar.
The Detroit Lions chose Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley at No. 13, adding him to a line that already includes standout tackle Ndamukong Suh.
North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn went to the St. Louis Rams next, and the Miami Dolphins made Florida center Mike Pouncey the 15th selection.
The Redskins got Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan with the Jaguars' pick, and the Patriots took Colorado offensive tackle Nate Solder at 17 with a draft choice from Oakland. The Chargers picked Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget, the Giants snagged Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara, and the Buccaneers opted for Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn to round out the top 20.
Cleveland traded up for the 21st pick, giving Kansas City the 27th overall choice and a third-round selection. The Browns chose Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor at the spot.
The Indianapolis Colts bolstered their offensive line depth by picking tackle Anthony Castonzo from Boston College, and the Philadelphia Eagles used the 23rd pick to take 26-year-old guard Danny Watkins.
Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan then went to the New Orleans Saints, and Alabama guard James Carpenter was taken off the board by Seattle.
The Baltimore Ravens let time expire on the 26th pick, allowing the Chiefs to move up and pick Pittsburgh wideout Jonathan Baldwin. The Ravens then chose Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith.
New England traded the 28th pick to New Orleans for the Saints' second-round (No. 56) choice and their 2012 first-rounder. The Saints used the opportunity to bring in Alabama running back Mark Ingram, the 2009 Heisman winner.
The Chicago Bears then picked Wisconsin offensive lineman Gabe Carimi, and the Jets chose Temple defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson. After Pittsburgh made Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward the 31st pick, the Super Bowl champion Packers closed the first round by taking defensive tackle Derek Sherrod from Mississippi State.
