Cam Newton explains why Johnny Manziel’s NIL valuation would be stratospheric compared to his own despite Heisman honors

Cam Newton, who was a Heisman winner in 2010, believes Johnny Manziel could have legally made millions had NIL existed when they were college athletes. Manziel, a former quarterback for Texas A&M, was the face of college football in 2012.

On the "4th and 1 Show" podcast on Tuesday, Newton asked Manziel who would've made the most money out of NIL deals between the two of them and former USC Trojans star Reggie Bush, the 2005 Heisman winner. Manziel replied:

“If we’re really really diving into it, I don’t see how anyone makes a bigger bag than you. You got Reggie in LA. You got me. But for me, the person who I wanted to emulate was Super Cam."

However, Cam Newton did not agree with "Johnny Football's" comment:

“When Reggie was in USC, it’s like the QB market. He would’ve set the market, like $2 million as a hypothetical. When I went to Auburn, at least $2 million. It’s a lot of money in college. But you would’ve definitely had more. Can I keep it a buck?

"When I think about Caucasian quarterbacks who got that ‘it factor’? That’s why your bag would’ve been way different than mine. Johnny Football? You had that s**t on you!”

Johnny Manziel revealed how much he thinks he could have made with NIL

Johnny Manziel played at Texas A&M for two seasons before leaving for the NFL. However, on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast, he said that his dad was working on a deal with Texas A&M to pay him $3 million, which was illegal under NCAA rules at the time, if he chose to stay for his junior season.

Ultimately, Manziel went to the NFL and didn't learn of the deal until years later. While on the podcast, the quarterback speculated that he could have made around $10 million per season had NIL been around.

Manziel won the Heisman trophy as a redshirt freshman in 2012, throwing for 3,706 yards, 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He then threw for 4,114 yards, 37 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in his sophomore season.

Johnny Manziel was drafted 22nd in 2014 by the Cleveland Browns. He played in just 15 NFL games, starting eight, before being released and never getting another chance in the league.