Comparison is the thief of joy.
A month into the season, Jayden Daniels can’t seem to avoid it.
Daniels has played almost perfect ball to begin his NFL careerGetty
Through the first five weeks, or really dating back to the night of the draft, Daniels has been mentioned in the same breath as Caleb Williams every step of the way.
Naturally, that’s how it goes when you are the first and second overall pick, playing the same position, for two desperate franchises.
Daniels has gotten off to an historic start, while Williams has taken a bit longer to find his rhythm, so of course much of the low-hanging discourse was if Chicago drafted the wrong quarterback?
Those hyperbolic questions have seemed to quietened down the last couple of weeks as Williams has started to find his footing.
At this point, the Daniels-Williams comparison is old, stale and tired, even though it will last throughout their entire careers and beyond.
That’s just the nature of the beast.
The shiny new comparison chatter everyone is talking about this week is Daniels and reigning MVP, Lamar Jackson.
The red hot 4-1 Washington Commanders are making the short drive up the I-95 to face the just as hot, 3-2 Baltimore Ravens, who have won their last three after starting with back-to-back defeats
Hence, the Daniels-Jackson comparisons all week.
Daniels is letting everyone know, he doesn’t want to be compared to the two-time MVP.
After a stunning 0-2 start to the season, Jackson and the Ravens have reeled off three impressive wins to get to 3-2Getty
“I don’t like when people try to compare me to Lamar,” Daniels said.
“We’re two different players. I want to be known as Jayden Daniels and not the next such-and-such.”
Daniels wants to be his own man, but don’t mistake that as any form of disrespect towards Jackson.
“I like watching good quarterback play,” Daniels said. “I’m a fan of his, and how he plays the game, how he approaches the game.
“But we’re two different quarterbacks, two different styles. I appreciate what he’s done for the sport and what he’s done for the African American quarterbacks.”
Jackson is a one-of-one talent so it’s unfair to Daniels to be compared to such a player only five games into his career.
While meant as an positive, Daniels made it clear that he doesn’t want the comparison.
And Jackson concurs.
“I agree,” Jackson said. “[Daniels] is his own player, he’s his own man, at the end of the day. We’re just trying to make a name for ourselves, not anyone else, so I agree with that — definitely.”
That doesn’t mean Jackson isn’t impressed by what he’s seen out of the former LSU star so far, because he is.
Jackson even went so far as to say, that if he had a Heisman vote, Daniels would take his.
“He’s doing what we saw in college — what got him the Heisman. No doubt,” Jackson said. “I really don’t catch a lot of college games, but when I did watch [Daniels] play, he was just doing an amazing job. That’s why he had my Heisman vote.”
It will be a DMV showdown for the ages, the likes of which the area hasn’t seen in forever. Reigning MVP versus a possible future MVP, one that may come way sooner than expected.
It’s the hottest ticket in the NFL in Week 6, with prices reportedly up over 200% since the start of the season.
The cheapest ticket going from $90 just a month ago to now over $300.
The price will be well worth the admission.
It’s Daniels versus Jackson, so sit back, relax and enjoy it.
Don’t feel the need to compare the two.
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