The San Francisco 49ers selected Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick. Eight selections later, the Chicago Bears drafted Justin Fields. Both fanbases are excited about their team's respective rookie quarterbacks and what their potential means to each organization's future.
One NFL linebacker turned ESPN analyst, Sam Acho, thinks highly of both rookies. Very highly. He feels we could be embarking on a new quarterback rivalry, comparing Lance versus Fields to one of the greatest competitions in NFL history.
"Justin Fields and Trey Lance could be the next Peyton Manning and Tom Brady," Acho said this week on ESPN's First Take (h/t to Jesse Pantuosco of Audacy).
That is some very high praise directed at two quarterbacks who have yet to take a single regular-season snap. Neither is even expected to be the Week 1 starter for his respective club. However, they are very clearly each's quarterback of the future.
"Justin Fields and Trey Lance could be the next Peyton Manning and Tom Brady."
—@TheSamAcho 🤔 pic.twitter.com/uevDeTO2Mi
— First Take (@FirstTake) August 27, 2021
"We all get excited about Trey Lance," Acho continued. "And yes, Jimmy [Garoppolo] may start, but we all get excited about Trey Lance, especially with Kyle Shanahan's offense. We all saw what Kyle Shanahan did with RG3.
"I played against San Francisco. That was the most difficult offense I ever had to go against. And you add a guy like Trey Lance in that offense? I think he's going to be dominant for a long time. … These two young quarterbacks are the future of the NFL."
During his two preseason outings, Lance has shown flashes of what he could eventually become. However, the 21-year-old quarterback has also looked very much like a rookie at times too.
"Trey's learning. He's getting better every single day," All-Pro tight end George Kittle recently shared. "He's got a cannon for an arm. He can make a bunch of throws. It's fun to see that stuff. Obviously, he still has a ton to learn, and so we're just taking it day by day."
Lance and Fields are seen as part of the continuing evolution of the NFL quarterback. They aren't just potentially dangerous with their arms, but they can frustrate opposing defenses with their legs too.
"We've seen how the NFL's gone," Acho added. "Look at the MVPs. Aaron Rodgers can move. Patrick Mahomes can move. Daniel Jones, even though people are asking questions about [him], he can move. Lamar Jackson as well. So the future of the NFL, when it comes to quarterbacking, is changing.
"You need athletic quarterbacks who can also throw the ball, who can make every throw but can also move in the pocket. That's what I see with these two young quarterbacks and the future of the NFL."