In his latest YouTube video released on Wednesday, Cam Newton said folks have been asking him who he thinks the Carolina Panthers should take with the first overall pick of the NFL draft. And, ya know, that’s a pretty good question to ask someone who the Carolina Panthers have taken with the first overall pick of the NFL draft, isn’t it?
So, Newton answered.
“If I’m the GM, if I’m the head coach, if I’m David Tepper—I’m selecting Bryce Young,” he stated. “And we all know the upside, we all know he went to Alabama, we all know that he has an incredible arm, upside, whatever. Relatively young.
“But, at the end of the day, all that changed when the NFL chose Baker Mayfield No. 1, when you chose Kyler Murray No. 1. Like, that’s not even a valuable topic or valuable, kind of, point. That’s not even a valuable point that you’re trying to make if you’re tryin’ to say he’s small. My thing that I will point out that makes all the difference in the decision is this No. 1 stat right here—23-4.”
Newton, who knows a thing or two about reaching the highest levels of success in the most competitive setting college football has to offer, offers Alabama’s impressive record with Young under center. The fellow SEC passer, like Newton, also got to the national championship game and won himself a Heisman Trophy in the process.
And it’s that ability—to lead in the most difficult of situations—is what Newton loves about Young.
“And this is how I judge quarterbacks as a whole,” he added. “Everybody can throw. Everybody has talent. Everybody has upside. Everybody has intangibles. But the thing that everybody doesn’t have, and it’s simple, is leadership and can you get a [bleeper bleeper] to follow you?”
Coincidentally, Young will likely be following in Newton’s footsteps on Thursday night.
[lawrence-related id=673239,673229,673017]