Thrust Pitching Moment Basics
Pitching moment caused by engine thrust is a function of how much thrust and where the engine is mounted vertically with respect to the center of gravity. Thrust pitching moment is not a function of how far forward or aft the engine is located. With this in mind, the nose up thrust induced pitching moment generated by the 737MAX engine is not greater than that for a 737NG. In fact, it is probably less as the center line of the larger MAX engine is higher than the center line of the smaller NG engine given their respective attachment geometries.
Hopefully it is now clear that the pitching moment of concern with the 737MAX engines that gives rise to the need for MCAS is related to the aerodynamic impact of the engine cowling location and geometry, not the magnitude nor location of the thrust vector generated by those engines.