Hall Of Famer Defends Justin Fields Ranking Over Trevor Lawrence

If there's one thing that can be counted on, it's that the annual NFL Top 100 player rankings will stir some controversy. What makes it unique is it doesn't come from a single expert or even a panel of experts. It's created entirely by votes from players in the league. That is why many analysts get so bent out of shape when certain narratives don't show up as they figured. Easily the biggest one of this year's rankings was when Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields placed higher (#86) than Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (#96).

Several experts laughed at the idea. Fields didn't even throw for 3,000 yards last year. His team went 3-14. Meanwhile, Lawrence topped 4,000 yards passing and won a playoff game. The two aren't even comparable. So NFL Total Access addressed the controversy by asking Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson about it. He played with Drew Brees and Philip Rivers. Surely he'd see the egregious error the voters made on this.

It must've been a shock when Tomlinson went in the exact opposite direction. In his mind, Fields is already far superior to Lawrence in one category, and he's not far off from matching him in another.

Justin Fields can physically do anything Lawrence can.

It's the truth. Lawrence rushed for 291 yards last season. He's not immobile, but nobody would mistake him and his 4.6-4.7 speed for Fields, who is believed to clock somewhere in the 4.3 range. They aren't on the same planet when running the ball. Lawrence's sole advantage at this point is he's more accomplished as a passer. He had far more yards, eight more touchdowns, and three fewer interceptions last season. There is no denying this. However, sticking to the numbers doesn't involve the big picture.

The tape says Justin Fields is equally capable of making all the same throws as Lawrence can. Last year, the primary difference between the two was the supporting cast. Lawrence had a better offensive line and a deeper array of weapons, headlined by Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Marvin Jones, Evan Engram, and Travis Etienne. A much sturdier defense also supported him.

After another active off-season, it feels like the Bears have finally put Fields on equal footing. The offensive line is reinforced. D.J. Moore arrived via trade. Robert Tonyan signed as a free agent. Darnell Mooney is healthy, and Chase Claypool had an entire off-season to absorb the offense. If things progress as expected, Tomlinson will be proven correct this year.