Jon Gruden: Cam Newton is 'the best player in the country'

Jon Gruden has signed off on Cam Newton.

The Super Bowl-winning head coach and current ESPN analyst said in his mind, there's no better prospect in this month's NFL draft.

"I think Cam Newton's the best player in the country,'' Gruden told the Tampa Tribune after working Newton out on Friday. "I agree with the Heisman Trophy people that gave him the award. He's got everything I'm looking for."

Gruden worked on field and in the film room with Newton for an ESPN special that will air this month.

Newton's skills have been the subject of intense scrutiny since Pro Football Weekly's draft analysis of the Auburn product last month questioned his makeup. The analysis said Newton was "very disingenuous" with a "fake smile" and claimed that he would not "command respect from teammates and always will struggle to win a locker room."

Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said last week he's sold on Newton's potential as an NFL prospect.

And Newton told the Tribune he's hopeful that he might hear his name called first in the NFL draft on April 28.

"To some degree, I'd like to go No. 1," Newton said. "The most important thing is to come out each day and get better. That's what I can control … I can't control where I get picked."