Before the beginning of every NFL season, football fans everywhere are assured the same thing by several analysts:

This is the year Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert becomes one of the very best in the league. This is the year his play matches that of guys like Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Matthew Stafford.

And every year, Herbert remains good but isn't quite able to take that next step. The Chargers always seem to be a popular pick to make a deep playoff run. Every year, they fall short.

Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars have seen their own QB, Trevor Lawrence, make the leap that is predicted for Herbert every year.

Since being paired with head coach Liam Coen, Lawrence has played like one of the NFL's best quarterbacks.

Lawrence was an MVP finalist last season for the first time in his career, finishing fifth in the voting. His masterful performance against the Browns in Week 1 looked like a QB who will be in the MVP conversation again this year.

Yet it seems like the same analysts who try so hard to prove that Herbert is much better than he has shown also try to prove that Lawrence isn't as good as he has shown.

Nick Wright has finally seen enough of the Herbert hype and the Lawrence doubt. On his What's Wright? With Nick Wright show, Wright flat-out says Lawrence is the quarterback the media "so badly pretends and wants Justin Herbert to be."

Wright points out that the media fawn over Herbert's size and his physical tools, but seem to ignore that Lawrence is just as big and strong and was the better prospect coming out of college.

Lawrence also has a playoff victory under his belt. Herbert does not. Who did Lawrence beat in that playoff game?

Justin Herbert and the Chargers, who somehow blew a 27-0 lead in that game.

Yet, coming into this season, I don't think there was one set of quarterback rankings with  Lawrence ranked above Herbert.

This is not meant as a criticism of Herbert, who I think is very good. It is a knock to all the members of the national media who look at how great Lawrence has played since the second half of last season and collectively shrug their shoulders.

For years, the narrative around Lawrence was that he was an underachiever. It was true for a long time.

However, all it took was a competent, stable coaching staff to finally bring out the best in Lawrence. Now that we are seeing it with our own eyes, there are still too many people telling everyone not to believe it. 

Right now, it's not even a debate who is better between Lawrence and Herbert. The Chargers' QB may take that next step soon, but until he does, the media should be talking about Lawrence the way they have talked about Herbert for years.