“The most complete running back in the draft…To me the playing style is almost Alvin Kamara-like.” – Simms on Travis Etienne as his top RB prospect

“Michael Carter [is] the surprise of the draft to me. I couldn’t get over it. His quickness, his ability to make people miss is elite.” – Simms

“He’s a tough eval for me…I don’t think Najee Harris is a slam dunk No. 1 NFL running back. I think he’s a really good No. 2.” – Simms on ranking Najee Harris as his No. 4 RB

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 15, 2021 – NBC Sports’ Chris Simms unveiled his running back draft rankings, discussing this year’s top RB prospects heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast, listing Clemson’s Travis Etienne No. 1. In the episode, Simms ranks and breaks down Etienne, North Carolina’s Michael Carter and Javonte Williams, Louisville’s Javian Hawkins, Alabama’s Najee Harris, and more.

Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, is joined by NBC Sports’ Paul Burmeister on the podcast. The two offer in-depth breakdowns, rankings, and NFL comparisons for this year’s top running back prospects.

“Running back is one of those positions where, hey, they can come in a lot of different shapes and sizes,” Simms said about his rankings. “So, there’s a lot to take into account here, but I think we have five really good ones and it’s a decent class overall as you really look at it. The way I look at it, the top-five can all be really special, and we have a group behind them that can all be real good.”

In the lead up to April’s NFL Draft, Simms will rank and break down every position group, provide a list of mid-late round sleeper prospects, and issue a final mock draft.

Simms’ Top Five RB prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft:

 

1.	Travis Etienne, Clemson
2.	Michael Carter, UNC
3.	Javian Hawkins, Louisville
4.	Najee Harris, Alabama
5.	Javonte Williams, UNC

 

The following are highlights from Simms’ RB draft rankings:

No. 1: Travis Etienne, Clemson

“The most complete running back in the draft, there’s no doubt about that to me…To me the playing style is almost Alvin Kamara-like a little bit. Kareem Hunt [too]. Those are the two guys I came away thinking that’s who he plays like…Can run for 60-yard touchdowns, check. Can run between the tackles and break tackles – man, can he break some tackles…and not that he’s an ankle-breaker, but he’s got a smoothness to which he runs and subtle ability to change directions to make people miss and never really lose speed. It’s hard for me to explain. He can kind of just weave and flow through traffic…That’s where he’s really special to me.”

No. 2: Michael Carter, North Carolina

“Michael Carter [is] the surprise of the draft to me. I couldn’t get over it. His quickness, his ability to make people miss and then reaccelerate, it’s elite…His start-stop ability is phenomenal. Unlike Javion (Hawkins) who’s a little bit of a smaller running back, there is somewhat of a powerness to this guy’s game. Not that it’s going to run you over, but he certainly showed the ability to handle contact and he breaks a lot more tackles than you would think for a guy that’s 201 or 199 pounds…We’re talking elite route-runner out of the backfield in the pass game, and a willing blocker in the pass game too.”

No. 3: Javian Hawkins, Louisville

“It’s a risky one as far as (size) is concerned, but that to me is…where the negatives stop. That’s all there is to it. And if you watch his game and you watch him play, I wouldn’t sit there and think he’s 185 (pounds) by the way he plays. First off, there’s more power. Because of his quicks, he’s really awesome at never letting them hit him square…The ultimate thing with Javian is speed, speed, and more speed. When I watch him, I sit here and go, ‘I’m watching Matt Breida. I’m watching Raheem Mostert.’ Those are the guys I’m watching. Again, their careers may not last more than six years, any of them, but, man, they can go for 90 yards every week. That to me is where he’s really special. His acceleration is through-the-roof good.”

No. 4: Najee Harris, Alabama

“He’s a tough eval for me. It’s my first one where I go, ‘Maybe I’m wrong.’ … I think the first thing is lack of speed is a real issue…Just watching him break out in the open at Alabama, it’s underwhelming…Are there some things he does really well? There’s no doubt, but, man, is he running in a lot of space at Alabama and that’s where my first question is. If there’s nothing there in the NFL, what is he going to do for you that way? I guess that’s where I come down to making him No. 4. He does have great feet. He can jump-cut and make people miss in the hole, he’s really special that way…For his size at 6’2, 230, I would also tell you it’s below-average power for his size…I don’t think Najee Harris is a slam dunk No. 1 NFL running back. I think he’s a really good No. 2 is what we’re getting into, but he will have, I think, a real role in the pass game.”

No. 5: Javonte Williams, North Carolina

“He’s a ball of power…The name of his game is balance and breaking tackles and power. That’s what he really does. I’m not going to tell you that I think he’s going to be an awesome, superstar NFL-type player. I do think there’s a little bit of raw explosiveness and speed and acceleration that’s missing from his game, that’s why he would be my No. 5 guy altogether, but everything he does in his game is pretty good…Has very good feet, I think that’s the impressive thing about him, but really when it comes down to it, it’s the low center of gravity and the power with which he can run. Whether it’s breaking arm tackles or just lowering his shoulder and running people over, those were by far the most impressive things he did.”

Honorable Mentions: Chuba Hubbard (Oklahoma State), Trey Sermon (Ohio State), Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis), Rhamondre Stevenson (Oklahoma).

To hear the full episode with full prospect breakdowns, click here.

The Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast is available for download on all major podcast platforms including: NBCSports.com/podcasts, NBC Sports’ Scores app, Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and iHeart.

-NBC SPORTS-

 “Ja’Marr Chase to me is just a slam dunk…He just has everything.” – Simms on Chase as his top WR prospect

“He’s got an incredible play-strength and physicality to his game that I thought was the most pleasant surprise of all.” – Simms on DeVonta Smith

“There’s nobody that could run with this kid…I was just blown away by the guy altogether.” – Simms on Dyami Brown

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 23, 2021 – NBC Sports’ Chris Simms unveiled his wide receiver draft rankings, discussing this year’s top WR prospects heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast, listing LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase No. 1. In the episode, Simms ranks and breaks down Chase, Alabama’s DeVonta Smith, the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner, North Carolina’s Dyami Brown, Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle, Florida’s Kadarius Toney, and more.

Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, is joined by NBC Sports’ Ahmed Fareed on the podcast. The two offer in-depth breakdowns, rankings, and NFL comparisons for this year’s top wide receiver prospects.

“I think the top three are close,” Simms said about his wide receiver rankings. “Numbers one, two and three to me are special, like special superstars who really could have a bright future.”

In the lead up to April’s NFL Draft, Simms will rank and break down every position group, provide a list of mid-late round sleeper prospects, and issue a final mock draft.

Simms’ Top Five WR prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft:

 

1.	Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
2.	DeVonta Smith, Alabama
3.	Dyami Brown, UNC
4.	Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
5.	Kadarius Toney, Florida

 

The following are highlights from Simms’ WR draft rankings:

No. 1: Ja’Marr Chase, LSU

“Ja’Marr Chase to me is just a slam dunk…He just has everything. First off, he has the ability to be an elite slot receiver. He’s not the most technique, well-schooled route runner yet, but it’s our old thing: let’s not over evaluate the guy that we’ve seen can do every movement on the planet with his hips and his feet…He could be the best slot in football, but he also could be the best outside weapon in football and just run by you with pure speed…This is the best receiver with the ball in his hands. That’s where he’s special. One, he can separate route running. Two, he plays way bigger than 6’1, 200 lbs. That’s the one thing I like about him, DeVonta Smith, and Dyami Brown. They’re 6-foot, 6’1, all of that, but man, when the ball’s in the air, it’s not 50-50. It’s kind of like 70-30 when the ball is in the air with these guys…As far as going over the middle and being fearless, he’s the most fearless of all of them…I’m really excited about Ja’Marr Chase. He is an awesome receiver, a weapon. He can do everything you want on the offensive side of the ball. You can do it all with him.”

No. 2: DeVonta Smith, Alabama

“Heisman Trophy winner. Has it all. Obviously Ja’Marr Chase is going to be my No. 1, but this is neck and neck with my man Dyami Brown being just barely on the outside of these two guys…We know DeVonta Smith is a freak of nature. You could be the most casual of football fans there are, and know No. 6 on Alabama is the real deal…He has a frame to me that shows me he’s going to get bigger…I think there’s going to be natural weight that comes along with it, but despite all of that, there’s nothing on film to say that strength is an issue in his game, nothing…He’s got an incredible play-strength and physicality to his game that I thought was the most pleasant surprise of all…He can play through contact, the 50-50 balls. Catching the ball through traffic is really good. When people do get a hand on him at the line of scrimmage, he can fight right through and have no issue. Let alone, at the line of scrimmage, he’s incredible at getting off the ball and not letting you get jammed…The speed is special. It’s really special…He pulls away from everybody. It’s all around special…he has way better strength and physicality than I was expecting.”

No. 3: Dyami Brown, North Carolina

“Dyami Brown to me was the one out of all the guys in the draft that I just watched and went, ‘Woah. Who’s this guy?’ … Acceleration, top-notch. Top-end speed. It’s Odell Beckham, Jr. with the ball in the air type speed. He has another gear. There’s nobody that could run with this kid…Route running I thought was through the roof in all aspects…This is unbelievable feet at the line of scrimmage and really understands how to set DBs up and has incredible start-stop ability…I was just blown away by the guy altogether, let alone he’s not just a track guy. Physicality and all of that…I’m very excited about him because he’s just one of those guys that I just go, ‘I don’t understand why he’s not getting a little more credit.’”

No. 4: Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

“He is on the outside of the big three for me…I’d be really happy if I were a quarterback and Jaylen Waddle was playing wide receiver for me. The reason I have Jaylen Waddle as No. 4 is because I think that he is a true slot wide receiver. I do have a little bit of a concern as far as size of the player…I’m not sure I’m sold he can win on the outside play after play after play (compared to) the top-tier wide receivers in all of football…Acceleration, twitchiness, quickness are off-the-charts good. But pure straight-line speed is not as good as the top three…When we talk about route running and being a nuanced, day one, game one, NFL-ready slot receiver, Waddle is ready to go.”

No. 5: Kadarius Toney, Florida

“What else is there more to say? Weapon. Explosion. Everything. Is he the most nuanced route runner there is? No, he’s kind of raw when it comes to route running, but again, I’m not going to overanalyze it…He’s doing it more right now with just the pure physical ability because that’s what he can do. He’s got incredible acceleration. I would really say it’s top-tier as far as anybody involved in this draft…Really rare too with a weapon guy like this, there’s a physicality element to his game…It’s Ja’Marr Chase and Toney who are the most dangerous with the ball in their hands.”

No. 6: Terrace Marshall, Jr., LSU

“AKA Justin Jefferson Jr. a little bit, coming out of LSU. Really interesting prospect…A lot of similarities to Justin Jefferson. Not quite the same player, I’m not as high on the guy overall, but when you look at the player altogether, there’s not much not to like. First off, he can do it all, and when I say that, I mean he’s got size…he can play inside or out. He has the versatility to do that…He’s a good route runner. I’m not going to sit here and tell you he’s as good a route runner as Justin Jefferson…As far as pure speed goes, it’s right there with Justin Jefferson.”

To hear the full episode with full prospect breakdowns, click here.

The Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast is available for download on all major podcast platforms including: NBCSports.com/podcasts, NBC Sports’ Scores app, Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and iHeart.

-NBC SPORTS-

 “He’s clearly No. 1 for me. Clearly. And there is space between him and Trevor Lawrence.” – Simms on Ranking Zach Wilson over Trevor Lawrence

“I feel like I’m back watching almost a Patrick Mahomes again. That’s how I feel when I’m watching him. It’s Aaron Rodgers-ish…He’s got the best arm in the draft.” – Simms on Wilson

“The talent is there, there’s no doubt, and to add on top of that, there’s untapped talent still here too…(He) has some inconsistencies, in my opinion, in his mechanics and throwing.” – Simms on Lawrence

“He’s a Top 10 pick, there’s no doubt in my mind.” – Simms on Mac Jones

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 4, 2021 – NBC Sports’ Chris Simms unveiled his quarterback draft rankings, discussing this year’s top QB prospects heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast, listing BYU QB Zach Wilson No. 1. In the episode, Simms ranks and breaks down Wilson, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Alabama’s Mac Jones, Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance.

Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, is joined by NBC Sports’ Paul Burmeister on the podcast. The two offer in-depth breakdowns, rankings, and NFL comparisons for this year’s top quarterback prospects.

“I’m excited about this. I’m not one really to change my rankings a whole lot,” Simms said about evaluating this year’s quarterback draft class. “Last year I did get a little infatuated with Jordan Love early in the process, and I had him above Tua (Tagovailoa). I ultimately ended up switching them. I don’t think I’m going to have any switching this year. I really don’t. It’s been a good 10 days of really me just studying quarterbacks. I feel extremely confident…I’m excited about this whole class.”

Simms, who has had recent success in projecting college quarterbacks – including naming Patrick Mahomes as his most exciting prospect in 2017, listing Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen as his top-two QBs in 2018, and having Justin Herbert as his No. 2 QB last year – has ranked Wilson as his No. 1 quarterback in this year’s class, above presumptive No. 1 pick Lawrence.

“As I watched, and I watched every throw of the season, to me there’s distance between one and two here,” Simms said about Wilson. “I’m sorry. He’s clearly No. 1 for me. Clearly. And there is space between him and Trevor Lawrence.”

In the lead up to April’s NFL Draft, Simms will rank and break down every position group, provide a list of mid-late round sleeper prospects, and issue a final mock draft.

Simms’ Top Six QB prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft:

1.	Zach Wilson, BYU
2.	Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
3.	Mac Jones, Alabama
4.	Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
5.	Justin Fields, Ohio State
6	Trey Lance, North Dakota State

 

The following are highlights from Simms’ QB draft rankings:

No. 1: Zach Wilson, BYU

“I’m blown away by Zach Wilson. I feel like I’m back watching almost a Patrick Mahomes again. That’s how I feel when I’m watching him. It’s Aaron Rodgers-ish…His throwing is exceptional, ok? The consistency of the throwing right off the bat…He’s got the best arm in the draft…His arm is special, and his accuracy is special. He takes advantage of all that’s there to be had, but it’s the other aspect of his game that also blows me away when there is nothing there…It’s off the charts, it’s wow. I knew the kid had talent. I did not expect to see what I saw, where it was just one consistent highlight show game after game after game after game…He’s a very good athlete. His feet are off-the-charts good. I guess what I come down to with him, the only negative is maybe I wish he was a little bigger.”

Simms on why he ranked Wilson above Lawrence

“Trevor Lawrence, we’re talking long career. He has Hall of Fame-type talent and ability, all of those things. I’m not knocking him. I’m just saying the guy I see right now at No. 1 is really superstar special talent and NFL-ready right now.”

No. 2: Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

“Amazing. Big, strong arm. He’s played in a lot of big-time college football. The talent is there, there’s no doubt, and to add on top of that, there’s untapped talent still here too. There are things that could be fixed in his football game. The one thing that I came away with with Trevor Lawrence – and listen, there’s a lot of plays where I go, ‘Oh good throw, great throw,’ – I always say size is a skill. He has that over Zach Wilson…Trevor Lawrence’s running is special, but when it comes to just pure throwing, and even the decision-making, Zach Wilson’s offense is pro-ish…Trevor Lawrence is not quite there yet. It’s real good, there’s no doubt. But it’s a very college-y offense too. Again, the raw talent is really real, and he’s definitely worthy of the No. 1 pick. If Jacksonville wants to take him No. 1, you’re not going to sit here and see me go, ‘That’s so stupid. That’s ridiculous.’ No. I see it, it’s real. But what I’ll say to you is he’s not as good a thrower as Justin Herbert was last year…The one thing that I think jumped out to me and maybe I didn’t even realize when I’m watching on TV because they’re Clemson and they still win and they put up points and yards and things like that, but there are a number of easy throws delivered to him…and then he gets to throw to a lot of wide open people too, and I have no issue with that. But there’s also a number of throws where, and this is where I think I was a little taken aback by it, where I just go, ‘That ball is off-target. He’s wide open and he missed it.’ … Trevor Lawrence has some inconsistencies, in my opinion, in his mechanics and throwing.”

No. 3: Mac Jones, Alabama

“Him and Zach Wilson are more consistent throwing the ball than Trevor Lawrence, but his top-end talent and potential is not Trevor Lawrence. So that’s why I don’t have him here, but if you just asked me right now at this second who can hit the most bullseyes? I’m going to go Mac Jones is going to hit more bullseyes than Trevor Lawrence. He is. Mac Jones is another one I was secretly blown away by as I started to watch him…There are so many big-time NFL throws, it is unreal…His feet are extremely quick, he is unbelievable in the pocket, and he can move plenty well-enough to avoid traffic and make throws on the run and do all of that. I really was kind of blown away by Mac Jones because it was more than I was expecting…He has every throw in the book…He’s the quickest decision-maker that I’ve ever seen. He’s right on with Joe Burrow. That’s where he is special…He’s a Top 10 pick, there’s no doubt in my mind.”

No. 4: Kellen Mond, Texas A&M

“This is the guy that’s not even on the radar to where you just go…nobody’s talking about this guy? It’s a machine throwing the ball, like Mac Jones. I don’t understand why there’s no talk about this guy…I promise you this is the guy I’m going to get calls from my NFL friends today going, ‘Oh, I wish you wouldn’t have said anything about him!’ … He has got an unbelievable release, has great command of the ball. As a pure, consistent thrower, it’s better than Trevor Lawrence just as a pure, ‘Every throw on the money, perfect spiral.’ I don’t know why he’s not getting more hype…The mechanics are perfect every time, and like a Mac Jones, it doesn’t matter what the throw is, he is within the realm of his mechanics.”

No. 5: Justin Fields, Ohio State

“I’ve got more notes on Justin Fields than anybody in here because there’s things I like – he’s got elite traits, he’s got elite arm strength, pure power in his arm…I think the number one thing I would look at is he’s built like Cam Newton except he’s two inches shorter, and he’s special that way. His running is better than I think I realized…There is raw ability there, there is no doubt about that. The arm is big-time when he pieces it together, and that’s the problem I have, ‘when he pieces it together.’ Very, very inconsistent that way…He throws it good on the run but not great because it goes back to some of the technique issues and there’s inconsistency. He just tries to do it with pure talent sometimes…There’s a lot of technique issues that he has. He’s a little bit of a project in terms of throwing the football.”

No. 6: Trey Lance, North Dakota State

“I like the raw talent, I do. He has more consistency in his mechanics than Justin Fields. Really, as a thrower, I like him better than Justin Fields. The biggest thing and the biggest negative with Trey Lance right off the bat is just he hasn’t played enough…He’s a phenomenal runner. He’s probably the best, most-gifted runner of the group…That’s going to be his issue I think as people dive in more and more, they’re just going to go, ‘He just hasn’t thrown enough, he hasn’t played enough.’ I don’t get to see enough evidence to go, ‘Oh I can buy into him being a Top 15 or Top 20 pick.’”

To hear the full episode with full prospect breakdowns, click here.

The Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast is available for download on all major podcast platforms including: NBCSports.com/podcasts, NBC Sports’ Scores app, Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and iHeart.

-NBC SPORTS-

New Simms Unbuttoned Episodes Stream Every Tuesday & Thursday at 6 p.m. ET; Re-Airs of Each Episode at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesdays and Fridays

Completes 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET Weekday Block of Sports Programming on Peacock, Joining PFT Live, The Dan Patrick Show, The Rich Eisen Show, Brother From Another, PFT PM, and Safety Blitz

STAMFORD, Conn. and NEW YORK – Oct. 26, 2020 – Chris Simms Unbuttoned, NBC Sports analyst and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms’ podcast and digital series, is joining Peacock’s block of daily sports programming, beginning tomorrow, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. ET.

Chris Simms Unbuttoned will stream on Peacock every Tuesday – Friday at 6 p.m. ET, with new episodes debuting each Tuesday and Thursday. Safety Blitz, featuring Rodney Harrison and Jac Collinsworth, streams at 6 p.m. ET on Peacock each Monday.

Joined by a rotation of NBC Sports hosts Ahmed Fareed, Paul Burmeister, and Liam McHugh, Simms takes an unfiltered look at the NFL, featuring player access, unabashed opinion, X&O film breakdown, and stories from a life in and around football. Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft, played eight NFL seasons following a four-year career at the University of Texas.

The addition of Simms Unbuttoned completes Peacock’s block of daily sports programming, which spans from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET on weekdays.

Following is Peacock’s weekday sports programming:

SHOW	TIME (ET)
PFT Live	7 a.m. – 9 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show	9 a.m. – Noon
The Rich Eisen Show	Noon – 3 p.m.
Brother From Another	3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
PFT PM	5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Safety Blitz*	6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Chris Simms Unbuttoned**	6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
*Monday
**Tuesday-Friday

 

Viewers can sign up for Peacock for free at peacocktv.com. Peacock is currently available on the Roku platform; Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD; Google platforms and devices including Android, Android TV devices, Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft’s Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Sony PlayStation4 and PlayStation 4 Pro; and VIZIO SmartCast TVs and LG Smart TVs. Comcast’s eligible Xfinity X1 and Flex customers, as well as eligible Cox Contour customers, enjoy Peacock Premium included with their service at no additional cost.

Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson Round Out Numbers 3-5 in the Simms Top 40 QB Countdown

“There is no weakness to Patrick Mahomes’ game right now…He’s the most creative thrower I’ve ever seen.” – Simms on Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes at No. 1

“Let’s start respecting the greatness of No. 3 up in Seattle…He’s one of the greatest one-man shows in the NFL. He does everything for his football team.” – Simms on Seahawks QB Russell Wilson at No. 2

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 26, 2020 – Chris Simms ranks Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes as his number one quarterback in the NFL, while Seattle’s Russell Wilson ranks number two as Simms’ top 40 quarterback countdown concludes on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and “PFT Live” this week with the QBs ranked 1-5.

“There is no weakness to Patrick Mahomes’ game right now. There is none. There’s literally nothing,” said Simms about ranking Mahomes No. 1. “I’ve never seen anybody like him in my life.”

Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, also unveiled his quarterbacks ranked three through five this week: Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers at three, Houston’s Deshaun Watson at four, and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson at five.

Simms’ complete Top 40 QB Countdown:

 

1.	Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City	21.	Baker Mayfield, Cleveland
2.	Russell Wilson, Seattle	22.	Daniel Jones, New York Giants
3.	Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay	23.	Sam Darnold, New York Jets
4.	Deshaun Watson, Houston	24.	Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
5.	Lamar Jackson, Baltimore	25.	Drew Lock, Denver
6.	Carson Wentz, Philadelphia	26.	Joe Burrow, Cincinnati
7.	Matt Ryan, Atlanta	27.	Andy Dalton, Dallas
8.	Dak Prescott, Dallas	28.	Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami
9.	Matthew Stafford, Detroit	29.	Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina
10.	Cam Newton, Free Agent	30.	Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville
11.	Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee	31.	Nick Foles, Chicago
12.	Kyler Murray, Arizona	32.	Case Keenum, Cleveland
13.	Kirk Cousins, Minnesota	33.	Jameis Winston, New Orleans
14.	Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh	34.	Tyrod Taylor, Los Angeles Chargers
15.	Tom Brady, Tampa Bay	35.	Jarrett Stidham, New England
16.	Drew Brees, New Orleans	36.	Taysom Hill, New Orleans
17.	Philip Rivers, Indianapolis	37.	Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
18.	Josh Allen, Buffalo	38.	Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago
19.	Derek Carr, Las Vegas	39.	Dwayne Haskins, Washington
20.	Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco	40.	Tua Tagovailoa, Miami

 

The rankings will continue next week with numbers 23-30 on “PFT Live” and Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from Chris Simms’ quarterback rankings:

No. 5: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Simms: “Awesome, exciting, one of the most explosive players in football. Certainly, dangerous in so many different ways. The skillset is vast. The running is electric — it is as good as anyone we have ever seen at the quarterback position other than Michael Vick. The throwing continues to go on an upward arc. He is a natural thrower…Is he a polished passer yet? No…There are still inconsistencies with that…His great running ability is setting up some great passing looks sometimes too, to maybe fool us into thinking he is a little bit better of a thrower than he is…I don’t think he is ready to carry the team with his right arm…That is basically the last piece we need to see from him to where he could be the number one or number two quarterback next year.”

No. 4: Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

Simms: “They don’t come more talented, more cool under pressure, than Deshaun Watson…He can maybe be a little bit more of a precise short-ball thrower…If he fixes that stuff, the sky is the limit. Another guy, like Lamar Jackson, where…he could challenge to be the best quarterback in the game. He is an unbelievable deep-ball thrower. He has got unbelievable toughness, and when the play breaks down, you could argue Deshaun Watson is as good as anybody in football to make something happen when nothing is there…The best thing about him is he is arguably one of the best deep-ball throwers in football. That, to me, is where I just think he is special…That is where he really stresses defenses out because we know he can scramble, but then you’ve got to go, ‘We better worry about the other 50 yards behind us, because he can bomb it over us that way too.’”

No. 3: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Simms: “This is the first time since 2010 that I am going into a season where I don’t think Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in football…Why did he fall to three? There are two guys in front him who are really special and in the primes of their careers. Rodgers, he is on that part where it is starting to go downhill, (but he’s) still special…Do I think his skills are declining a little bit? Yes… but it doesn’t matter. It is still a special arm…It is still one of the best arms in the game…His escapability was a little less than what we normally see from him…I think he is too careful with the football. I think that is the biggest reason or the biggest thing about his game that I don’t like right now…Yeah, the window was tight, but you are freaking Aaron Rodgers. Throw it in there…This is the greatest gunslinger we have seen in the history of the sport, (and) who takes care of the football…He will win you a lot of games, and he really doesn’t lose you a lot of games because of that too…He is still arguably the most-gifted thrower, passer in the game. There is no offense, no play, nothing exists other than maybe the Lamar Jackson-offense that Aaron Rodgers couldn’t run. He can make every throw off every platform to a degree that there is only a few people in the history of the league that could do it (how) he does.”

No. 2: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Simms: “Let’s start respecting the greatness of No. 3 up in Seattle…He’s one of the greatest one-man shows in the NFL. He does everything for his football team, let alone he plays quarterback for a team that doesn’t play a quarterback-friendly style of football…(The Seahawks) have to get out of this mold of, ‘We’re still the Legion of Boom in 2013.’ Put the ball in Russell’s hands from start to finish in every game. Put the pressure on teams that way…With an offense that’s not necessarily the most creative passing game in football — it’s very elementary — and Russell Wilson, he makes it happen with pinpoint passing. He might be the best deep-ball thrower in the game, and then, of course, we know his adlibbing and ability to escape the pocket.”

No. 1: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Simms: “Where do you start? There is no weakness to Patrick Mahomes’ game right now. There is none. There’s literally nothing…I’ve never seen anybody like him in my life. Yeah, you’d like it from a quarterback school standpoint of him being a little more strict technique-wise, but it’s what makes him him. And certainly, when his technique is right, I mean, come on. It’s a walk in the park…He’s truly a special, special talent. He’s the most creative thrower I’ve ever seen, and that’s crazy because Aaron Rodgers is really creative, but I’ve never seen a guy who could do it with more different ways…He’s got more delivery points and ability to get it done than anybody I’ve ever seen play quarterback in my entire life…This is another aspect that I love: his deep drop. He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee at quarterback. I don’t even call it a drop. He just floats back there. It’s unlike any other quarterback in football. It’s really, in a lot of ways, brilliant.”

To listen to the full player breakdowns on Chris Simms Unbuttoned, click here.

-NBC SPORTS-

“He’s one of the six quarterbacks in football where you can put the squad on his back and he can carry you no matter who’s out there.” – Simms on Eagles QB Carson Wentz at No. 6

“Dak Prescott has it all. He’s a franchise quarterback. He deserves to be paid in a big way.” – Simms on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott at No. 8

“I am talking about a Top 10 quarterback who has no team. It’s insane…He’s so good and talented and threatening that no team wants to bring Cam Newton in to be the backup.” – Simms on Free Agent QB Cam Newton at No. 10

Top Five QBs to be Revealed This Week, Including Top Two on Thursday, June 25

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 22, 2020 – Chris Simms continues to unveil his list of the top 40 quarterbacks in the NFL on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and “PFT Live” with the QBs ranked 6-14.

Beginning May 26 and culminating this Thursday, June 25 with his top two quarterbacks in the league, Simms will release two selections daily every Monday-Thursday on “PFT Live.”

Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, will also offer in-depth player breakdowns and rankings explanations throughout each week on Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

Among this week’s rankings is free agent Cam Newton at No. 10.

“I am talking about a Top 10 quarterback who has no team. It’s insane,” Simms said. “He’s so good and talented and threatening that no team wants to bring Cam Newton in to be the backup.”

Simms’ quarterbacks ranked 6-14:

 

6.	Carson Wentz, Philadelphia	24.	Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
7.	Matt Ryan, Atlanta	25.	Drew Lock, Denver
8.	Dak Prescott, Dallas	26.	Joe Burrow, Cincinnati
9.	Matthew Stafford, Detroit	27.	Andy Dalton, Dallas
10.	Cam Newton, Free Agent	28.	Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami
11.	Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee	29.	Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina
12.	Kyler Murray, Arizona	30.	Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville
13.	Kirk Cousins, Minnesota	31.	Nick Foles, Chicago
14.	Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh	32.	Case Keenum, Cleveland
15.	Tom Brady, Tampa Bay	33.	Jameis Winston, New Orleans
16.	Drew Brees, New Orleans	34.	Tyrod Taylor, Los Angeles Chargers
17.	Philip Rivers, Indianapolis	35.	Jarrett Stidham, New England
18.	Josh Allen, Buffalo	36.	Taysom Hill, New Orleans
19.	Derek Carr, Las Vegas	37.	Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
20.	Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco	38.	Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago
21.	Baker Mayfield, Cleveland	39.	Dwayne Haskins, Washington
22.	Daniel Jones, New York Giants	40.	Tua Tagovailoa, Miami
23.	Sam Darnold, New York Jets

 

The rankings will continue next week with numbers 23-30 on “PFT Live” and Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from Chris Simms’ quarterback rankings:

No. 14: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Simms: “He is still a baller…Big Ben is getting to an age where we know it is going to decline, but he’s still big-time in a lot of ways…One of the greatest deep ball throwers in the history of football. I think that’s where it starts…Unlike maybe a (Drew) Brees or a (Tom) Brady, where Big Ben still has an advantage is he’s still fearless in the pocket…He is still one of the best power throwers in football…When nothing is there, Big Ben can still make things happen. Size is a skill…He is one of the best backyard quarterbacks we have ever seen.”

No. 13: Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Simms: “Just an unbelievable read-and-react quarterback. I have never seen anyone who can drop back and evaluate the defense and just let it rip as quickly…To play in that kind of offense is not always easy for a quarterback. Run the ball, run the ball, run the ball. ‘Oh, Kirk, now can you stand up and throw a 15-yard laser for us in a big moment?’…I think he is a better athlete than he gets credit for.”

No. 12: Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Simms: “The guy is special. I’m afraid that at the end of the 2020 season, I’m going to go, ‘Man, I knew I should have put Kyler Murray at five or six.’…You could argue he is the fastest quarterback in football, him or Lamar Jackson. Certainly, one of the best scrambling quarterbacks there is in football. His arm is off-the-charts strong…His release is lightning…There is nothing about his game that said careless rookie…Arizona is Arizona right now because of him…The stars are aligning. The guy is a special talent, and now they put talent around him.”

No. 11: Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans

Simms: “He was on a football team that finally showed what he has and what you can do to utilize his talents…One of the most pure throwers in the NFL…Amazing deep ball thrower. Amazing, he is one of the best in football…Any intermediate-to-deep throw, he has got every club in the bag. He can drive it with power, throw it with touch. He is amazing that way. He stands in the pocket. He is fearless there, and of course he is a really good athlete…He, to me, takes advantage more of what is there to be had than almost any other quarterback I watched in football this year.”

No. 10: Cam Newton, Free Agent

Simms: “Here I am talking about a Top 10 quarterback who has no team. It’s insane…(Panthers head coach Matt Rhule) wants to make his stamp on the organization…He’s so good and talented and threatening that no team wants to bring Cam Newton in to be the backup. He’s going to threaten almost every quarterback in football except the elite, elite superstars…The guy’s talented, and I know he’s been injured…and he’s 31 years old…He’s going to be fine. It’s not career-ending. He’s got a lot of years ahead of him. He’s going to be able to play to 37, 38, maybe 40…I’m still a huge believer in Cam Newton.”

No. 9: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Simms: “Disrespected throughout his career, it drives me crazy. One of the greatest arms and throwers in the history of the sport. He doesn’t get a lot of credit for that because he’s in the same division with the guy with the greatest arm in the history of the sport, in my opinion, Aaron Rodgers…Stafford, I thought in 2019, adjusted to the new playing style in Detroit with Matt Patricia…In 2019, he was out-of-this-world good in another offense that I would say was not quarterback-friendly and really wanted to run the ball first…From what I saw last year, the throws, the leadership, the decisions…he makes so many plays and throws that change the game. They just don’t always capitalize because they’re not a great team up in Detroit.”

No. 8: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Simms: “Dak Prescott brings it all to the table — leadership, toughness. I love that aspect of him and that’s where — him and Matt Stafford I had really close, but I give Dak Prescott the advantage because of some of that that he brings to the football team. There is somewhat of an edge he brings…This is one of the best deep ball throwers in football, too. I don’t think he quite gets the credit he deserves for making off-schedule plays and throws…To me, Dak Prescott has it all. He’s a franchise quarterback. He deserves to be paid in a big way.”

No. 7: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Simms: “Matt Ryan has such a great blend of things going on. He’s that precision, dissection passer that Tom Brady and Drew Brees are…It’s not a huge arm, I would say it’s below NFL-average, really, out of the starting quarterbacks…There are a lot of quarterbacks with better arms than Matt Ryan, but between his experience, his ability to dissect defenses like a Brady and a Brees, being able to handle all of that stuff mentally, and then being able to read and react to defenses and make quick decisions with big-time throws is awesome. Where I give him more respect than system or precision passers…is Matt Ryan is scary good running around the pocket and making plays when things break down. Their offensive line has stunk the last few years. I would really say I’m more impressed with the way Matt Ryan has played the last few years than in 2016 when he was the MVP of football.”

No. 6: Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles

Simms: “(The Eagles) are not in the playoffs last year unless they have Carson Wentz at quarterback…I don’t even know where to begin. He’s one of the six quarterbacks in football where you can put the squad on his back and he can carry you no matter who’s out there, what style of game you play, what kind of offense you’re in, it doesn’t matter…It’s like the Cleveland Cavaliers with LeBron James…Awesome arm. Explosive, game-changing arm…In the pocket, he’s as tough as there is in football…I think he’s one of the most talented quarterbacks in football. I think he’s only going upwards.”

To listen to the full player breakdowns on Chris Simms Unbuttoned, click here.

-NBC SPORTS-

 “The ceiling is he could be Peyton Manning.” – Simms on Bengals QB Joe Burrow at No. 26

“I saw improvements from year one to year two…He is a master Jedi in the pocket.” – Simms on Jets QB Sam Darnold at No. 23

Top Two QBs to be Revealed on Thursday, June 25

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 5, 2020 – Chris Simms continues to unveil his list of the top 40 quarterbacks in the NFL on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and “PFT Live” with the QBs ranked 23-30 this week.

Beginning last week and culminating Thursday, June 25 with his top two quarterbacks in the league, Simms will release two selections daily every Monday-Thursday on “PFT Live.”

Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, will also offer in-depth player breakdowns and rankings explanations throughout each week on Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

Among this week’s rankings is 2022 No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 26. “The floor for Joe Burrow is he’s going to be a real good NFL quarterback,” Simms said. “the ceiling, to me, is he could be Peyton Manning.”

Simms’ quarterbacks ranked 23-40:

 

23.	Sam Darnold, New York Jets	32.	Case Keenum, Cleveland
24.	Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams	33.	Jameis Winston, New Orleans
25.	Drew Lock, Denver	34.	Tyrod Taylor, Los Angeles Chargers
26.	Joe Burrow, Cincinnati	35.	Jarrett Stidham, New England
27.	Andy Dalton, Dallas	36.	Taysom Hill, New Orleans
28.	Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami	37.	Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
29.	Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina	38.	Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago
30.	Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville	39.	Dwayne Haskins, Washington
31.	Nick Foles, Chicago	40.	Tua Tagovailoa, Miami

 

The rankings will continue next week with numbers 23-30 on “PFT Live” and Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from Chris Simms’ quarterback rankings:

No. 30: Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars

Simms: “He’s an exciting football player. He brings something to the team and the organization more than what’s on the field…You see the fan base rallied around him, you can tell the team rallies around him. He’s got an edge…he can make some things happen when there’s nothing there to be had. He is a good athlete and he’s a good thrower…It’s a below NFL starting quarterback average arm, but…his strength (is)…intermediate-type passes…Am I sold that he’s the franchise yet in Jacksonville? No, I’m not. But he has a lot of the traits to be that guy…He’s got some Alex Smith qualities to him.”

No. 29: Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina Panthers

Simms: “There is something about his appeal as the leader of your football team…Guys in the locker room follow Teddy Bridgewater. On the field, it’s not always going to blow you away. I wish he was more aggressive…He is smart, he takes care of the football, he is accurate, and once he gets a feel and some comfort level for the game, he will start to take some chances…The story is amazing, it really is. I wasn’t sure he was ever going to play football again and now he’s making $22 million per year in a really good system.”

No. 28: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins

Simms: “You want to talk about gutty, gritty, career-journeyman…When he is hot, he is awesome to watch…He is a very hot-and-cold type quarterback… I think that is what I will always remember Ryan Fitzpatrick as… I wouldn’t be shocked if he has another solid year this year. Maybe (he) gets replaced during the season at some point by Tua [Tagovailoa], but I just wouldn’t be shocked if he is in a similar situation next year with another team if he continues to do this…I don’t think Ryan Fitzpatrick is going to give up that job easily, that is for sure.”

No. 27: Andy Dalton, Dallas Cowboys

Simms: “He is a backup quarterback that is better than some starters in the NFL…Andy Dalton, to me, is a guy that can be anywhere from No. 20 to No. 32 in a given year…There is no glaring weakness to his game…You give him some support and a little run game and some receivers to throw to, he is going to make good decisions, nice throws, and he knows where to go with the ball.”

No. 26: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Simms: “I am very confident in saying he’s going to be good. I don’t know if he’s going to be great or awesome, but I think everything I studied coming out of the draft makes me believe that he’s going to be great…I saw enough in college to know the guy is going to come in and be able to run an NFL offense and make every throw you need to make…The floor for Joe Burrow is he’s going to be a real good NFL quarterback. The ceiling, to me, is he could be Peyton Manning.”

No. 25: Drew Lock, Denver Broncos

Simms: “Drew Lock really excites me as a football player…I thought he was the second best quarterback in the draft (in 2019) behind Kyler Murray…He’s just a really natural, pure thrower of the football and the ball explodes out of his hands with great ease…He reminds me of Matthew Stafford as far as skillset is concerned…Drew Lock’s arm is special. He is the kind of guy that, I think, we could be sitting here a year or two from now, and if everything goes right, I can go this is a top 10 quarterback in football, this is one of the five best arms in football.”

No. 24: Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

Simms: “You can win football games (with Goff)…There is good arm strength there. I am not going to say it is great…Does he make plays from time to time? Yes, he does. Not enough for me to put him in the top 20 or really high…He is not as accurate as sometimes I think he is…He is below average in the pocket…That is why he is where he is. He does not have great feel in the pocket…A good quarterback, you can certainly win with him.”

No. 23: Sam Darnold, New York Jets

Simms: “I saw improvements from year one to year two with Sam Darnold in some areas…He has got a very quick release…He can get it out of his hand as good as about anyone in the NFL not named Aaron Rodgers as far as quickness throwing it…He is phenomenal in the pocket. I mean a master Jedi in the pocket. He has got phenomenal feet. He has got great feel. He is one of those guys that can move around the pocket and it looks like he is looking at the rush the way is he avoiding these guys, but yet he can look down field and still evaluate his receivers and the coverage, and still make throws that way.”

To listen to the full player breakdowns on Chris Simms Unbuttoned, click here.

-NBC SPORTS-