Cam Newton
Former MVP and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton isn’t known for holding back — and he proved it once again. With the upcoming NFL Draft, set for April 23–25 in Pittsburgh, all eyes are on this year’s crop of prospects.
Experts are publishing their mock drafts and evaluating college talent, but Newton decided to steal the spotlight. On his podcast “4th&1,” he didn’t mince words:
“This is the absolute worst quarterback draft class in the last two decades.”
Newton’s bold claim is sure to ignite debate as fans and analysts dive into the strengths—and glaring weaknesses—of the 2026 quarterback class. While draft experts continue to debate the upside of several prospects, Newton’s blunt assessment immediately sparked discussion across the NFL world, especially among fans eager to see whether a new franchise quarterback might emerge from this group.
Cam Newton Blames Arch Manning
And Newton didn’t stop there. He even pinned the blame on a quarterback who isn’t even eligible for the 2026 Draft: Arch Manning.
When asked about the fact that Arch Manning isn’t even registered for the 2026 Draft, Newton’s response was simple: “Exactly.”
He elaborated, painting a picture of what could have been: Manning, he argued, should have been everything Fernando Mendoza became — a national champion, a Heisman Trophy winner, and an All-Pro-caliber player.
For Newton, the situation highlights what he sees as a major “what if” scenario for the entire draft cycle. Had Manning declared, the conversation around the quarterback class could look completely different. Instead, teams searching for a long-term franchise passer may have to look elsewhere—or wait another year.
This year’s draft class does feature several recognizable names: Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, and Carson Beck are widely considered the top quarterback prospects.
But Newton remains unflinching: “I don’t see no franchise quarterback. I just don’t see it.”
That statement cuts directly against the optimism many teams and analysts typically project during draft season. Every year, quarterbacks rise up draft boards as franchises convince themselves they’ve found the next star. Newton, however, believes this particular group simply lacks the elite traits that usually define true franchise passers.
With comments like these, the former MVP isn’t just stirring debate—he’s challenging the entire narrative around the 2026 quarterback class.
At the same time, the former signal-caller predicts a bright future ahead: because Manning chose to return to Texas, Newton believes the 2027 quarterback class could be the best we’ve ever seen.
Cam Newton Believes 2027 Quarterback Class Will Be Better Than the 2020 Class
4th&1 with Cam Newton
Cam, “This is the ABSOLUTE WORST QB Draft class in the last two decades. Thanks to Arch Manning!” 4th&1 Hot Take out now on Youtube!
It’s classic Newton—unafraid to criticize the present while hyping up what’s coming next.
Newton doubled down on his take by looking ahead to the future. According to the former MVP, the 2027 quarterback class could end up being the best in the last 20 years, naming a stacked group of potential prospects that includes Arch Manning, Julian Sayin, Jayden Maiava, Dante Moore, and LaNorris Sellers.
Newton compared that projected class to the highly regarded 2020 NFL Draft quarterback group that produced stars like Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, and Jalen Hurts.
That class quickly became one of the most successful quarterback groups in recent memory, producing multiple Pro Bowl players and several legitimate franchise quarterbacks. For Newton, it represents the benchmark for what a truly elite quarterback draft should look like.
To illustrate the other end of the spectrum, Newton also pointed to the notoriously disappointing 2007 NFL Draft quarterback class—often cited as one of the worst ever—which featured first-round picks JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn but ultimately failed to produce long-term franchise passers.
By drawing that comparison, Newton essentially framed the current quarterback class somewhere closer to the league’s biggest draft disappointments than its greatest success stories. Whether that prediction proves accurate will only become clear once the prospects finally take the field at the NFL level.
Until then, Newton’s comments have accomplished one thing for certain: they’ve injected even more intrigue—and controversy—into an already unpredictable draft season.