Former NFL DPOY picks sides in Cam Newton vs Lamar Jackson debate
Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson are being compared as of late for each quarterback’s ability to change the game with all four limbs. Amid this, a former NFL linebacker picked his favorite and backed it up with experience.
Luke Kuechly clinched the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012 and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year next season. Kuechly played eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers and witnessed Newton during the height of his power in the 2015 season. The Panthers went to the Super Bowl with Newton being declared the MVP.
On Monday, Kuechly appeared on the ‘Kay Adams Show’ and declared his allegiance with his former teammate in the Newton vs Jackson debate. The seven-time Pro Bowler did agree to his bias but gave his reasoning for picking Newton over Lamar Jackson:
“I'm partial to Cam and I'll say this. I think that playing against Cam Newton would be so difficult because of how physical he was. He's big, he's physical.
“Lamar is a pain to tackle. He's a pain to get your hands on. He's a pain to keep in the pocket. But you can get on and you can get them on the ground.”
Kuechly highlighted the attributes of Cam Newton that make him a special player in this debate:
“With Cam, he's running through you on third down, and one and fourth, fourth and goal, third and two at the 2-yard line.
“You know exactly what plays come and he's going to be six five to 65 Run and power with Tolbert as a lead blocker and it's like good luck.”
Cam Newton has not played a game since 2021 and is close to retirement at the age of 35. The 27-year-old Lamar Jackson still has a lot of gas in his tank.
Cam Newton pips Lamar Jackson ahead of him
While the debate for best dual-threat QB rages on, Newton on his podcast ‘Fourth and One’ declared the winner. Despite former teammates and many across the football world claiming Newton’s name, he picked the Baltimore Ravens QB to be the better choice:
“Lamar's style is different than mine. He's got big plays any play. He's got speed that I never had. And he's just a legend. I played the game more powerful. I can run, but I'm going to probably get caught. Lamar ain’t getting caught.”
With Cam Newton himself pipping Lamar Jackson to be the better dual-threat QB, the debate is all but over. However, he should know that one of his former teammates doesn’t agree with him.