Predicting NFL Awards in 5 years: Can Trey Lance win MVP?

Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers, 2021 NFL Draft. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers, 2021 NFL Draft. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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NFL Awards
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Super Bowl 60 MVP: Trey Lance

Unless Tom Brady somehow manages to play another five seasons, this award is as much a toss-up as the other ones — if not more so. In the last decade, only three-non quarterbacks have been named the Super Bowl MVP: Malcolm Smith, Von Miller and Julian Edelman.

Perhaps I’ll have an easier time making this prediction by figuring out who will play in Super Bowl LX. The 49ers seem to have a nice, young nucleus, as do the Dolphins. I’m sure there are other teams who deserve consideration, but for now, I’ll shrug my shoulders and pencil in my 2026 Super Bowl prediction as the 49ers versus the Dolphins.

A full disclaimer, though: I think Tua Tagovailoa will have a good season in 2021. I think he can be the team’s long-term starter. This projection is more about the coaching staff than anything because, unlike Kyle Shanahan, we have yet to see Brian Flores lead Miami to a Super Bowl.

Maybe that time will come but, until then, it’s a bit easier to forecast a sixth 49ers championship in their future. And if Shanahan can do it with Jimmy Garoppolo, then I’m sure he can do it with his hand-picked heir, Trey Lance.

Other Active Candidates: Mahomes, Wilson, Prescott, Tua Tagovailoa