Bryce Young’s spot is Fair, But Cam Newton’s Ranking Among No. 1 Draft Picks Isn't

After finishing his third season with the Panthers and leading Carolina to an NFC South title and playoff berth, Bryce Young slides into No. 20 on Knox’s top 25 No. 1’s in the last 25 years.

This feels just right for Bryce Young, still growing as a player, who has improved every year, and yes, there have been some real lows, but there's no denying he’s starting to come around, as Young has been one of the best crunch-time QBs in the NFL in the last two seasons. Young leads the NFL in game-winning drives since he entered the league in 2023, with 12 of them. 

The key for Bryce Young going forward is consistency, avoiding awful mistakes, and elevating his play throughout an entire game, rather than just when the pressure is highest. 

Cam Newton is Just One Spot Too Low

Before even reading the list, it was evident that Cam Newton was going to be very high on it; the only question would be who they have over him, and Knox misses the mark on one of the players ahead of Newton. Cam Newton slots in at No. 4 among the top 25 No. 1 picks, with Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett ranking one spot ahead of him at No. 3 on the list.

If an NFL GM had their whole roster wiped away, cleared out, and had to choose between an NFL MVP quarterback or a defensive player of the year edge rusher, the GM is going to choose the QB, 100 out of 100 times, it’s that simple. 

Myles Garrett is a better player at his position than Cam Newton is at his, but the difference is that Newton’s position is more important. Newton still won the league MVP and led the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance, along with multiple other great seasons and playoff berths, while Myles Garrett has had astronomical seasons, but they’ve ended with his team winning four games. 

With that being said, Cam Newton should be ranked No. 3 on this list, behind Eli Manning and Matthew Stafford.