Head coach Ron Rivera said he wasn't surprised to see his franchise quarterback respond in such a manner.

"Cam understands his position on this football team," Rivera said. "And going forward, he knows it's his job to help develop our team -- just in case. I feel very positive about how everything Cam has done this offseason."

Drafting a quarterback behind Newton is something new for the Panthers, but it's nothing new around the league. Since the Patriots picked Tom Brady in 2000, for example, New England has drafted 10 quarterbacks including six in the fourth round or earlier.

Newton, who sat out the final two games of the 2018 season with shoulder soreness, referenced a couple of University of Georgia additions while talking about Grier with the hometown television station.