Cam Newton compares Bo Nix to NFL MVP candidate

Former NFL MVP Cam Newton sees a little bit of 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in Oregon's Bo Nix.

"I look at Bo as Brock Purdy," Newton said on the latest edition of his "4th & 1" program. "Brock is extremely skillful. He’s a grinder. … When I look at him, he’s extremely talented when things are good. When everything’s going good, I will pick Bo Nix over everybody — listen to me — because I seen it. When I watched Oregon this year, when I watched him even at Auburn (from 2019–2021), when things were good, there was nobody better than Bo Nix." 

Newton and Purdy first became linked this past NFL season when the free agent controversially referred to the final pick of the 2022 draft as a "game manager" instead of a "game-changing" player. Purdy becoming a regular-season MVP finalist and a Super Bowl starter didn't change Newton's mind regarding that subject, and he seemed to use the Purdy comparison to share his concerns about Nix.

"When adversity came into play, there was nobody worse than Bo Nix, too," Newton continued. "That’s one thing this game is going to bring to you as a player. You’re going to be faced with adversity — physical adversity or emotional adversity. Can he get out of his own head?" 

While some NFL writers said that Nix's draft stock rose throughout April, many assumed at the start of the week that he would slide to the second round. However, a first-round run on quarterbacks could cause a team to take a flier on Nix earlier than initially thought. 

On Thursday, Sportskeeda consulting editor and NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline gave Nix a second-round grade. Meanwhile, Newton said he thinks Nix will be a "big steal" of this year's draft. 

"Has all the upside," Newton added about Nix. "Can make every single throw. I know, and I will say it again: there’s no better quarterback in the draft when in rhythm than Nix. It’s like when he’s hot, he’s hot, but when he’s cold, (expletive), he cold."