“That’s why they won the Super Bowl, because he was willing to stand in there in the pocket and push the ball down the field… His arm is still phenomenal…He’s the greatest leader in the history of the sport.” – Simms on No. 10 Tom Brady

“He’s an unbelievable pocket pressure thrower, but he’s got more than that…He’s got it all.” – Simms on No. 9 Dak Prescott

“It’s already one of the five best arms and throwers maybe in football…He’s a rising superstar in our league right now.” – Simms on No. 11 Justin Herbert

Simms’ Top 40 QB Countdown Culminates with the Top Four on Monday, June 21

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 14, 2021 – NBC Sports’ 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 9-12.

Beginning last month and culminating Monday, June 21 with his top five quarterbacks in the league, Simms will unveil his selections on each Chris Simms Unbuttoned episode and discuss his rankings on “PFT Live” with Mike Florio.

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.

Simms’ quarterbacks ranked 9-40:

The rankings will continue Wednesday, June 16 with numbers and 5-8 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from this week’s editions of Chris Simms Unbuttoned:

No. 12: Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans

Simms: “Maximization, never leaving yards out on the field. That’s where Ryan Tannehill is the best to me. He takes advantage of every little big play that’s there to be had in football. I could sit here and argue that I think he’s one of the best deep-ball throwers in football. I could sit here and argue and say that he’s one of the most accurate 10-plus yard throwers…He puts it on the money and it’s touchdowns. Deep crossers going down the field, they don’t have to stop or regather or do anything. They get to go full speed because he puts it on the money…He’s just gotten better and better…We’re talking about a really good football, a guy that you could certainly justify being in the top 10.”

No. 11: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Simms: “It’s just one unreal throw after another from Justin Herbert. His arm is unreal strong, and he can do it with great ease. That’s the thing that you just have to talk about right away. It’s already one of the five best arms and throwers maybe in football. I think he’s right there in that conversation for what he can do as far as down-the-field throwing, accuracy in the intermediate-short game. It’s a pretty quick release, it’s not the quickest. It’s probably something he can improve on a little bit, but you talk about all of those things – the elite throwing ability, the accuracy – and then also the ability…with people around him, he’s already one of the best in football at that…He’s such a big man, he can throw over pressure like big quarterbacks we’ve seen whether it’s Cam Newton or Tom Brady or Peyton Manning…Just an unbelievable rookie year by him. He’s a rising superstar in our league right now.”

No. 10: Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Simms: “We saw a different Tom Brady last year…Brady’s arm has never been the question. The last few years in New England, unwillingness to stand in there in the pocket, take hits, do things to throw the ball down the field. He had great, great pass protection last year and of course had weapons, but to me that’s where he redefined himself. That’s why they won the Super Bowl, because he was willing to stand in there in the pocket and push the ball down the field…His arm is still phenomenal. His talent, it’s not as good as Ryan Tannehill or Justin Herbert, but I gave a little bit more to leadership and edge and things like that – your team’s belief because of you. That’s where Brady’s special. He’s the greatest leader in the history of the sport…His throwing, his aggressive mindset, he’s still awesome in the pocket, but the big thing to me more than anything was he played tougher (last year)…and that’s when they were dangerous and that’s when they were at their best.”

No. 9: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Simms: “This is the big soldier, the ultimate leader. You go back and watch Dak Prescott, you don’t realize how awesome he is until you watch…The toughness, we know that. The athleticism, unreal…He’s an unbelievable pocket pressure thrower, but he’s got more than that. You’ve got to have that backyard element and make plays, and he’s got a great blend of both and that’s why they can be deadly on offense…He’s a high-level thrower, he’s got an aggressive mindset, he’s a really good down-the-field thrower….He’s got it all. He’s a great leader…the team loves him. He brings an element to the run game that doesn’t get valued enough.”

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

-NBC SPORTS-

 “If somebody told me, ‘I think he’s the number nine or 10 quarterback in football,’ … I’m not going to fight against it. It was a huge year for Baker Mayfield.” – Simms on Baker Mayfield

“We’ve got to start giving him a little bit of respect. The guy’s playing the position at a really high level…He had games last year that he played perfectly.” – Simms on Derek Carr

Simms’ Top 40 QB Countdown Culminates with the Top Four on Monday, June 21

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 9, 2021 – NBC Sports’ 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 13-16.

Beginning last month and culminating Monday, June 21 with his top five quarterbacks in the league, Simms will unveil his selections on each Chris Simms Unbuttoned episode and discuss his rankings on “PFT Live” with Mike Florio.

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.

Simms’ quarterbacks ranked 13-40:

The rankings will continue Monday, June 14 with numbers and 9-12 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from this week’s editions of Chris Simms Unbuttoned:

No. 16: Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Simms: “Is Kirk Cousins underrated to a degree? Certainly, I just can’t say he’s better than the 15 guys I have in front of him. I don’t know if he necessarily gets the appreciation he deserves…We’re talking about one of the best processors of information in all of football. His ability to drop back, come off a play-action pass, read and diagnose the defense, and make a decision quickly is as good as the top quarterbacks in the game. He’s great in that department, there’s no doubt…But, there is a system element to Kirk Cousins. I don’t want to say he’s a system quarterback because he’s not. He’s system-plus, because he can add more because of his ability to throw the ball into tight windows and do things like that for your offense. But for this day and age, he’s a below average athlete for an NFL quarterback.”

No. 15: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Simms: “Matt Ryan is a legend of the game. I don’t know what to say. It doesn’t make me feel proud to sit here and tell you that Matt Ryan, I think, is the 15^th best quarterback in football right now. Of course, you can win a Super Bowl (with him). You can do special things. Matt Ryan is still capable of playing at a very high level. He is phenomenal at throwing the football between 10 and 20 yards…His ability to process, it’s as good as it gets…Matt Ryan’s movement, it always amazes me how much more he moves than I realize or that I want to give him credit for. That’s the biggest thing about his game…But the one thing that bothered me when I went back and watched was the conservative nature in the competitive part of the football game…You can’t wait until it’s 24-0 to make something happen.”

No. 14: Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders

Simms: “He was way above average in my opinion last year. We’ve got to start giving him a little bit of respect. The guy’s playing the position at a really high level…He had games last year that he played perfectly. He’s efficient, he’s accurate with the football, he really never loses control of the football. My big complaint about him last year was, ‘Let’s go. Let it rip a little. Throw the rifle down the middle of the field.’ … He’s got it in him to be a little bit more of a flamethrower than what we saw last year…I thought some of his play was phenomenal last year. I think you can look at a few points where the Raiders faltered last year, but I don’t necessarily think it was his play like I did maybe in years before that…I thought he brought a little bit of an edge to the team last year…I saw him yell at (head coach) Jon Gruden last year. It made me proud.”

No. 13: Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns

Simms: “If somebody told me, ‘I think he’s the number nine or 10 quarterback in football,’ I’d go, ‘Ok, I get it. I’m not going to fight against it.’ It was a huge year for Baker Mayfield, and really I think the biggest thing I would say is it’s an elite arm. He’s an elite passer, an elite thrower…I think the biggest thing that jumped out to me was the amount of high-level, high-degree-of-difficulty throws that Baker Mayfield made throughout the year and he doesn’t blink or doesn’t flinch and he hits the bullseye…Obviously he was more confident and knows the offense. Not necessarily the greatest runner, but a great mover…He brings an edge to your football team. Say what you want about Baker Mayfield – you like him or love him, the guys on that team love him and it shows on the football field and he brings an attitude to their football team. That’s why I’m excited and that’s why he made the big jump.”

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

-NBC SPORTS-

 “If he doesn’t get hurt and continues on the trend that he’s on, he’s definitely right around the top ten.” – Simms on Joe Burrow

“He’s shown me the ability to play at an extremely high level, so I’m not going to just knock him because of one year.” – Simms on Carson Wentz

Simms’ Top 40 QB Countdown Culminates with the Top Four on Monday, June 21

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 7, 2021 – NBC Sports’ 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 17-20.

Beginning last month and culminating Monday, June 21 with his top five quarterbacks in the league, Simms will unveil his selections on each Chris Simms Unbuttoned episode and discuss his rankings on “PFT Live” with Mike Florio.

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.

Simms; quarterbacks ranked 17-40:

The rankings will continue Wednesday, June 9 with numbers and 13-16 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from this week’s editions of Chris Simms Unbuttoned:

No. 20: Cam Newton, New England Patriots

Simms: “Cam Newton is still one of the 20 best quarterbacks in football for my money…It’s not about the quarterback stats all the time, it’s the effect you have on the football game. He’s a little bit of a force of nature that way and I think that sometimes gets swept under the rug…Cam Newton still has got one of the greatest presence of all quarterbacks on the NFL field…He’s a great leader, he’s a great worker…You have to get over the passing numbers at times, and I understand work needs to be done…He’s one of the best running quarterbacks in football still, and his skillset running the football is one of the things that made that not-very-talented offense somewhat of a threat in certain weeks and it certainly made them one of the best running offenses in football.”

No. 19: Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers

Simms: “I’m excited about Sam Darnold. We’re going to get answers about Sam Darnold this year…(The Jets) never gave him support, but Darnold still has, to me, all the physical attributes to be a big-time franchise quarterback. I see it. I don’t care about the results and the stats and the win-loss. I can see it. He is awesome in the pocket, he scrambles within the pocket which is rare – it’s almost like Big Ben in his prime – but yet this guy can get outside the pocket and run…Sam Darnold has a little of everything in his football game, we just haven’t been able to see it because they didn’t support him…Quick release, phenomenal intermediate thrower. I thought he got better at deep-ball throwing last year…Now we’re going to see some pieces around him to really prove my point.”

No. 18: Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts

Simms: “Last year was rough, we know that, but I’ve seen enough in Carson Wentz’ career…He let the situation around him affect him last year, and it pushed him to make some poor decisions and then try to carry the team like he did the year before…He was too reckless with the football…We’re talking about a guy that has a good arm, he’s a phenomenal athlete, he has great size and, even though the year wasn’t great last year, the circumstance around him was really bad…He’s shown me the ability to play at an extremely high level, so I’m not going to just knock him because of one year on a bad offense with a bad supporting staff.”

No. 17: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Simms: “He’s at 17 because of the current status of his injury…If he doesn’t get hurt and continues on the trend that he’s on, he’s definitely right around the top ten. The guy has it all. There’s only one thing missing from Joe Burrow’s game – maybe a little bit more of an explosive element from his right arm…When I go back and watch Joe Burrow, first off, it’s like, ‘Is this really a rookie?’ … He plays the position the right way, gets the ball out of his hands, throws with great accuracy…It was phenomenal. He’s as slippery and as slick in the pocket as anybody in football. He has a legit running ability…His ability to make plays off-schedule is almost as impressive as his ability to make them on-schedule…He doesn’t have that rocket arm like Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes, but when he gets out of the pocket he is still looking to throw and that’s what I love about him.”

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

-NBC SPORTS-

Jimmy Garoppolo (No. 21), Ben Roethlisberger (No. 22), Ryan Fitzpatrick (No. 23), Taysom Hill (No. 24) & Jameis Winston (No. 25) Ranked #21-25 in the Simms Top 40 QB Countdown

“From the traditional quarterback standpoint, I would rank Jameis Winston in front of Taysom Hill. But the thing is, tradition is gone. The NFL has changed.” – Simms on ranking Taysom Hill ahead of Jameis Winston

“I still think he’s got talent. I still think you can win a Super Bowl with Big Ben…(The Steelers) have to take the (Tom) Brady and Buccaneers route.” – Simms on Ben Roethlisberger

Simms’ Top 40 QB Countdown Culminates with the Top Four on Monday, June 21

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 3, 2021 – NBC Sports’ 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 21-25.

Beginning last week and culminating Monday, June 21 with his top five quarterbacks in the league, Simms will unveil five selections on each Chris Simms Unbuttoned episode and discuss his rankings on “PFT Live” with Mike Florio.

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.

Simms; quarterbacks ranked 21-25:

The rankings will continue Monday, June 7 with numbers 17-20 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from this week’s editions of Chris Simms Unbuttoned:

No. 25: Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints

Simms: “He’s a hard guy to place. We know his top-end play is special, but it’s the old adage with Jameis Winston, the bottom-end play is really bad at times. I don’t expect that (to continue) if he does get a chance to play here with Sean Payton. I think he’s going to clean that up and hopefully he’s learned from Drew Brees…He’s a top 10 talent in football when he plays clean and smart…Not every play has to be the last play of the game or you have to make magic happen…This is one of the most intriguing quarterback battles of this season.”

No. 24: Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints

Simms: “I gave him the slight advantage (over Winston) … Taysom Hill is not your traditional quarterback. From the traditional quarterback standpoint, I would rank Jameis Winston in front of Taysom Hill. But the thing is, tradition is gone. The NFL has changed, quarterbacks don’t just stand in the pocket and pick you apart anymore. There’s more to it than that. Taysom Hill has to be evaluated less as a quarterback, but a little bit more like the guys that are in his type – a force. A force of nature…It’s going to be more about his skill set, what it brings to the offense, and the pressure he puts on the defense where it can’t be quantified with stats or quarterback ratings.”

No. 23: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Washington Football Team

Simms: “‘Fitz-tragic’ is over. Get over it, it’s done…That was a real thing for a time when it was either ‘Fitz-tragic’ or then the next game it was ‘Fitz-magic.’ We’ve seen enough years here where it’s not really ‘Fitz-tragic’ anymore. That’s old stuff…He’s aggressive, he makes plays in the pass game with his arm and his aggressive decision-making…Where I gave Ryan Fitzpatrick maybe a little bump too, as compared to other guys that we don’t look at as big-time stars or franchise-type quarterbacks, is he moves pretty well…and I think he brings a little edge to the football team. I think there is a leadership factor with Fitzpatrick, even though everybody knows he’s not the franchise or the future, he has a way or an edginess about him.”

No. 22: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Simms: “I love me some Big Ben. Yes, he’s fallen down the rankings a little bit. I think it’s pretty obvious why…It wasn’t his best year, there’s no doubt about that…I still think he’s got talent. I still think you can win a Super Bowl with Big Ben, but it was underwhelming towards the ends of last year…Lack of mobility, sometimes lack of aggressive throws down the field. I think that’s right now why I question where Big Ben is at…I do think they can still win with him, they just have to do the right thing on the offensive side of the ball to help him…They have to take the (Tom) Brady and Buccaneers route.”

No. 21: Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers

Simms: “Availability is an issue. Of course, it’s the first thing you have to think about. It’s why the 49ers drafted a quarterback in the first round…Jimmy G. does a lot of good things…but there’s a lot of quarterbacks we could have put on that 49ers team and they could’ve won games. Even high-level backups…(The 49ers moves) are telling you that yeah, health is an issue, but even when he plays we’re not exactly in love with it…He’s physically limited with his ability to move in the pocket or extend plays, and his arm is really NFL-average, but he’s got a quick release and great anticipation, so that saves him a little bit. And that’s where he’s really good…But is he going to make plays out of the realm of the offense a whole lot? Absolutely not, and to me that’s where he falls to No. 21.”

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

-NBC SPORTS-

Daniel Jones (No. 26), Zach Wilson (No. 27), Trevor Lawrence (No. 28), Andy Dalton (No. 29) & Mac Jones (No. 30) Ranked #26-30 in the Simms Top 40 QB Countdown

“What can’t he do on a football field? … I think he brings everything to the table as far as what you want from a starting quarterback in the NFL.” – Simms on Trevor Lawrence

“His throwing is out-of-this-world special…He’s got (Aaron) Rodgers, (Patrick) Mahomes-ish type qualities.” – Simms on Zach Wilson

“He’s the most NFL, pro-ready quarterback to come out in this NFL Draft.” – Simms on Mac Jones

Simms’ Top 40 QB Countdown Culminates with the Top Four on Monday, June 21

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 1, 2021 – NBC Sports’ 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 26-30.

Beginning last week and culminating Monday, June 21 with his top five quarterbacks in the league, Simms will unveil five selections on each Chris Simms Unbuttoned episode and discuss his rankings on “PFT Live” with Mike Florio.

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.

Simms’ quarterbacks ranked 26-40:

The rankings will continue Thursday, June 3 with numbers and 21-25 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from this week’s editions of Chris Simms Unbuttoned:

No. 30: Mac Jones, New England Patriots

Simms: “For me, he is one of the 32 best quarterbacks in football…He’s the most NFL, pro-ready quarterback to come out in this NFL Draft. One, I think he’s tailor-made to play quarterback in the NFL for his style and everything he does with his physical attributes, his ability to process and read coverage…Plus, I don’t look at him as a normal rookie. I don’t think he’s as talented as Trevor Lawrence or Zach Wilson, but I do think as far as NFL-ready is concerned, I think he is the most ready.”

No. 29: Andy Dalton, Chicago Bears

Simms: “Undervalued physical ability…Not that he’s going to wow you, but I don’t know if we always give Andy Dalton quite the credit that he deserves. He can make all the throws and he can make power throws too. Throws a pretty good deep ball. He’s a better athlete than we give him credit for, not that he’s going to turn the corner and run for 30-yard gains, but he can move around the pocket and scramble when he needs too…He’s a little bit more than a game manager to me…He can make a few more throws in a game with his right arm to swing the pendulum into his team’s favor than some of the other guys who are similar to him on this top 40 list.”

No. 28: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Simms: “I’m a huge fan. I know people think I’m a hater because I put Zach Wilson in front of him, but Trevor Lawrence? Come on. What can’t he do on a football field? He brings, to me, everything to the table. First off, on the field, he has skills for days. Big, can run, can scramble…Throws the ball well on the run, can throw under pressure, has a big-time arm that has room for improvement…There’s room to grow there. In a lot of ways, I like that…He brings something to his team with his presence and the way he acts…I think he brings everything to the table as far as what you want from a starting quarterback in the NFL.”

No. 27: Zach Wilson, New York Jets

Simms: “I’m all in on Zach Wilson. He’s my guy. Of course, I love Trevor Lawrence, but Zach Wilson, he’s just got an appeal to my eye that the other quarterbacks did not have in this draft. His talents are special, I think his throwing is out-of-this-world special…I think he’s one of those guys, if you talk to people who have seen him in person, it’s always, ‘Woah…the ball explodes’ … Incredible athlete, can really run…I love Zach Wilson’s talent, I like his moxie…He’s got (Aaron) Rodgers, (Patrick) Mahomes-ish type qualities that really pop out and I think it’s the perfect marriage with the Jets.”

No. 26: Daniel Jones, New York Giants

Simms: “This is a make-or-break year in Daniel Jones’ career if he wants to continue to be the unchallenged starting quarterback for the New York Giants. He’s got all the skills and attributes to be a really good franchise quarterback, but it’s got to come together…It’s as big of a year three for a quarterback as I can remember…When you break down Daniel Jones and why I say the potential is there, the guy has all the tools to be really, really good and do some special things and lead the Giants. He’s an elite passer…He can make every throw, he’s got every club in the bag. You’ve seen him run, his athleticism is real.”

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

-NBC SPORTS-

Jared Goff (No. 31), Teddy Bridgewater (No. 32), Drew Lock (No. 33), Tua Tagovailoa (No. 34) & Tyrod Taylor (No. 35) Ranked #31-35 in the Simms Top 40 QB Countdown

“I do know he knows how to win football games and lead a team…But for all his play, he doesn’t play the game like a really experienced quarterback.” – Simms on Jared Goff

“There is a charisma aspect that he brings to the field…He knows how to play the game.” – Simms on Tua Tagovailoa

“His high-end talent is real…I look at Drew Lock as having a chance of maybe being a superstar in this league.” – Simms on Drew Lock

Simms’ Top 40 QB Countdown Culminates with the Top Four on Monday, June 21

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 26, 2021 – NBC Sports’ 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 31-35.

Beginning earlier this week and culminating Monday, June 21 with his top five quarterbacks in the league, Simms will unveil five selections on each Chris Simms Unbuttoned episode and discuss his rankings on “PFT Live” with Mike Florio.

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.

To kick off the countdown, Simms unveiled his quarterbacks ranked 31-35:

The rankings will continue Tuesday, June 1 with numbers and 26-30 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from this week’s editions of Chris Simms Unbuttoned:

No. 35: Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans

Simms: “Like I said about Case Keenum, this is one of the best backup quarterbacks in football…In a lot of ways, where I have him ahead of Case Keenum, Tyrod Taylor is the same in theory as that guy, expect he really has better physical talents…For me, he’s the ultimate backup too, in that he is one of those guys that you can just throw out  there…We’ve seen him lead teams to the playoffs.”

No. 34: Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Simms: “He rose from last year’s rankings (No. 40). He grew as a player, he got to play in the NFL. He did some good things. He played in some big moments, made some big throws in some big moments, had some big runs in some big moments…He got better as a football player, but I still have my questions…I like his talent, I don’t love it…There is a charisma aspect that he brings to the field and of course he does have a presence on the field. He knows how to play the game. Even as a rookie, he didn’t mess up many situations…But he’s got to get more aggressive.”

No. 33: Drew Lock, Denver Broncos

Simms: “His high-end talent is real. I think people in Denver are panicking a little bit, or maybe are overly critical of the play I saw from Drew Lock last year. I know it wasn’t perfect…Not every throw has to be a 35-yard missile into double coverage. That’s where Drew Lock has to get better at just playing the position and taking what the defense gives you. But he does have a real upside to be a big-time quarterback. I thought that’s what we were going to see more of last year…He’s boom-or-bust right now. It’s a huge year for him. He has the talent to be a consistent top-half of the league starting quarterback.”

No. 32: Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos

Simms: “I don’t think his high-end talent is as good as Drew Lock’s, but I trust Teddy Bridgewater. He falls into that category of maybe he’s not going to win you games, but he’s not going to lose you games either. There’s value to that…I look at Drew Lock as having a chance of maybe being a superstar in this league. Teddy Bridgewater has no chance of being that for me, but right now, I do think he’s a better overall player than Drew Lock.”

No. 31: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Simms: “There is experience. We know he’s played in big games, but there’s a number of questions about Jared Goff, certainly. First off, there’s no redeeming, unbelievable physical qualities or traits…So that’s why he is No. 31 to me. Obviously, you know you can win games with him, but it has to be within a certain formula or a certain way in my opinion, to win those games. There is good arm strength. He can throw the ball hard and far, but it’s one of the least catchable balls in the game and it can be inaccurate at times…I do know he knows how to win football games and lead a team. Those are the things I like…For all his play, he doesn’t play the game like a really experienced quarterback. That’s I think the thing that maybe bothers me more than anything – just knowing the situation or knowing the game.”

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

-NBC SPORTS-

 “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:

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.

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