“[Hutchinson] has the definite capability of being one of the best edge players in football. He’s as quick of an athlete as I’ve ever seen at that size.” – Simms on Michigan edge Aidan Hutchinson

“He’s raw…but he’s a really big-time talent. I like his motion and he makes some ‘wow’ throws.” – Simms on Liberty QB Malik Willis

NBC Sports’ 2022 NFL Draft Coverage Continues This Week on Across NBC Sports Platforms

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 27, 2022 – With the NFL Draft beginning tomorrow, NBC Sports’ Chris Simms has released his first-round mock draft on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast.

Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, was joined by NBC Sports’ Ahmed Fareed on Simms Unbuttoned to offer evaluation, insight and analysis on the draft’s top prospects and each team’s needs heading into the draft.

Click here to watch the full episode of the Simms Unbuttoned mock draft episode. In the weeks leading up to the Draft, Simms has provided position-by-position breakdowns of the top prospects. Click here for a full playlist of Simms’ positional rankings.

Throughout the first round of the NFL Draft tomorrow night, follow along on Twitter (@CSimmsQB)  and Instagram (@simmsunbuttoned) as Simms reacts and provides live analysis.

Simms 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 in 2020.

Earlier this week, NBC Sports NFL Insider Peter King unveiled his 2022 first-round mock draft, projecting Georgia DL Travon Walker to go No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Click here for King’s mock draft. On ProFootballTalk.com, Mike Florio unveiled his mock draft, also with Walker going No. 1 to Jacksonville.

For more NFL coverage, Peacock offers daily programming on the NBC Sports channel for free, including Pro Football Talk at 7 a.m. ET every weekday, Chris Simms Unbuttoned, The Peter King Podcast, The Rich Eisen Show, Brother from Another, and The Dan Patrick Show. To learn more about the NBC Sports on Peacock channel and how to sign up, click here.

The following is Chris Simms’ first round mock draft:

 “He’s Jerry Jeudy with another gear. He’s DeVonta Smith with a little more strength to his game…To me, this is a slam dunk, superstar receiver.” – Simms on ranking Jameson Williams No. 1

“Do you like DK Metcalf? Do you like Chase Claypool? Do you like Mike Evans? Because that’s who Christian Watson is…You put him on Alabama or Ohio State, we’re all going this is a top 10 pick.” – Simms on North Dakota State’s Christian Watson

“He’s polished and NFL-ready. He’s just a faster Jordy Nelson.” – Simms on Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 29, 2022 – NBC Sports’ Chris Simms unveiled his wide receiver draft rankings, discussing this year’s top WR prospects heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast, listing Alabama WR Jameson Williams No. 1.

In the episode, Simms ranks and breaks down Williams, North Dakota State’s Christian Watson, Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks, and Southern California’s Drake London.

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 wide receiver prospects.

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 2022 NFL Draft:

The following are highlights from Simms’ WR draft rankings:

No. 1: Jameson Williams, Alabama

“Jameson Williams to me is the most slam dunk, easiest evaluation so far. He’s Jerry Jeudy with another gear. He’s DeVonta Smith with a little more strength to his game. I look at Jameson Williams and just go, ‘You name it, he can do it.’ Arguably the best route runner in the draft, arguably the best yards after the catch in the draft…Plays way stronger than his size would indicate…He breaks tackles. Slants over the middle, runs through arm tackles, stiff arms people to the ground, turns it back on and runs for 40 yards. His start-stop ability…it’s off the charts good for double moves…It’s as good as anybody in the NFL…To me, this is a slam dunk, superstar receiver, but he has the ACL question and that puts a question mark on this thing.”

No. 2: Christian Watson, North Dakota State

“The most pleasant surprise of the draft for me…I have all the confidence in the world that you’re going to continue to hear his name more and more. Maybe not as high as No. 2, but I think you’re going to start to here, ‘Oh, he’s a first-round wide receiver.’ … I sit here and go, ‘Do you like DK Metcalf? Do you like Chase Claypool? Do you like Mike Evans?’ Because that’s who Christian Watson is to me…Him and (Jameson Williams) are the freakiest, most explosive people in the draft. It’s a low level of competition, I understand that. It’s hard [not] to look at and go this is not an NFL DB [he’s playing against],  but the amount of time that’s covered and the amount of ground that’s covered, to me it popped off the screen as much as anybody in the draft except for (Williams), who I think it’s very equal to…He will run by people all day long…When you just look at the size, the skill, this kid’s a real specimen…He’s a top 20 pick in my opinion…You put him on Alabama or Ohio State, we’re all going this is a top 10 pick…Maybe the most physically gifted wide receiver in the draft.”

No 3: Alec Pierce, Cincinnati

“Nobody can run with Alec Pierce. He runs by everybody. His times and everything he did at the Combine were phenomenal. He’s in the conversation for the best route runner in the whole draft. His ability to get off the line of scrimmage with different releases and do it like a pro – whether it be the footwork, the hands, whatever – it’s as good as it gets. And then you couple that with the pure athleticism…there’s nobody that can line up with him. He would classify as the guy where I’d go, [he’s] like the DK Metcalf or the Chase Claypool…if (Cincinnati) threw the ball to him five more times a game, he would have had 100 yards in every game…The ability to run the routes, snag the ball out of the air…I just don’t see anything about him where you’d go, ‘What is there not to love about this kid?’ … It’s not his fault that he wasn’t on the team or the quarterback or the system that knew how to give him the ball the right way. He’s polished and NFL-ready. He’s just a faster Jordy Nelson.”

No. 4: Treylon Burks, Arkansas

“Laviska Shenault is a fair comparison. The size is real…We see some evidence of this guy being able to just run by people and go beat a guy on a go-route for a 40-yard touchdown…but am I wowed by the speed? Absolutely not. He’s a weapon…I’m not wowed by his ability to separate from DBs…I am wowed by what he can do with the ball in his hand, though. The way he can break tackles…I think he’s going to be played in the slot most of the time. He’s fearless, he’s got great hands, he snatches it out of the air…and he catches a lot of 50/50 balls and balls in traffic over the middle. He’s a weapon who you’re going to continue to grow with some of the receiving things. The guy that came to my mind is Jarvis Landry…Get the ball in his hands and he’ll do some things. Find ways for him to get in the system and he can make plays with you after the catch and block and do all those types of things, too. He’s going to be a weapon like Deebo (Samuel)…I certainly like the player.”

No. 5: Drake London, USC

“He’s one of the greatest 50/50 jump ball receivers I’ve ever seen in the history of my evaluation, period…It’s not 50/50, it’s kind of 90/10 with this guy. His size is truly an elite thing…He uses it to benefit his skillset and his play. His ability to play the ball in the air, his vertical leap is real, his ability to grab the ball and have people hanging on his arms and hold onto it…all of that is top-notch and I think very, very impressive. The route running is pretty special for a guy that size…He’s very twitchy and quick…[but] he doesn’t pull away from people after that. Separation does concern me…There is a lack of true straight-line explosiveness and power. He breaks no tackles. He pulls away from nobody. The speed concerns, but because of the size and the route running, he’s going to be able to play outside. He understands how to set DBs up, play with their mind a little bit, set up zone routes…I think he’s made for the NFL a little bit, his route running is exceptional, the size and the 50/50 balls are exceptional. He’s No. 5 on my list because of lack of true explosion. He plays bigger than 6’4…it’s a Calvin Johnson-ish look. It is a size league, and the guy’s got an elite skill with his size. He has a very high ceiling, and it’s a high floor.”

-NBC SPORTS-

 “The ball absolutely flies out of Matt Corral’s hand. He’s made for the modern-day NFL…There’s some parts of his game that I think are next-level elite.” – Simms on ranking Corral No. 1

“The most ready right now of all the quarterbacks. The safest pick of the NFL quarterbacks in this draft.” – Simms on Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett

“His ability to throw deep balls, balls on the outside that are power throws, they’re effortless.” – Simms on Liberty QB Malik Willis

“All of these [quarterbacks], I don’t know if they’re really worthy top 10 picks.” – Simms

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 22, 2022 – NBC Sports’ Chris Simms unveiled his quarterback draft rankings, discussing this year’s top QB prospects heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast, listing Mississippi QB Matt Corral No. 1. In the episode, Simms ranks and breaks down Corral, Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, Liberty’s Malik Willis, North Carolina’s Sam Howell, and Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder.

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 quarterback prospects.

“There’s question about this class, and I understand that,” Simms said of this year’s quarterback prospects. “Maybe the high-end talent isn’t as talented as we’ve seen in year’s past, and there’s certainly not the depth that we’ve seen in years past. For me and my money, after the top five or six, it really falls off. Like really falls off…It’s an underwhelming class.”

Fareed to Simms on his past rankings: “You broke the internet 365 days ago, or around then, when you ranked Zach Wilson over Trevor Lawrence. I just wanted to sing your praises for a moment. You saw red flags in Trevor Lawrence last year, and I think we all saw that. You were higher than most on Mac Jones, some may say he was the most impressive rookie quarterback, so that was a win for you. You saw some red flags and a longer way to go with Trey Lance, maybe the 49ers see that now too. And you saw some passing game issues with Justin Fields, why you ranked him lower, and I think we saw that. So, you had a lot of wins.”

Simms 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 in 2020.

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 QB prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft:

The following are highlights from Simms’ QB draft rankings:

No. 1: Matt Corral, Mississippi

“Here’s the basics: insane athlete. He’s the quickest quarterback in the draft. There’s nobody with quicker feet, can make people miss, great acceleration, can pop his feet to get back into throwing positions…nobody can do that as quick as Matt Corral…It’s as quick a release as I’ve seen coming out of college football in a few years. It’s almost to the point at times where I go, ‘Man, I wish he’d let his arm go a little bit more.’ … It literally looked like he just took it from his ear and just threw it like a dart, that’s how quick and compact the delivery is…The arm strength is phenomenal. The ball absolutely flies out of Matt Corral’s hand. To me, he’s made for the modern-day NFL…This guy can run. He’s the fastest quarterback in this group…He’s the most accurate thrower in the draft, too. I don’t know what his numbers are, I don’t really care. I know when he sees a target, he can put the ball on the money in the tightest windows out of anybody in this draft…There’s a lot of elite traits with Matt Corral…The one thing is he’s got to put it all together. It’s not all together yet. I wish we did see a little bit more of, ‘Let’s go through reads.’ … There’s some parts of his game that I think are next-level elite.”

No. 2: Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

“Really good football player. The most ready right now of all the quarterbacks. The safest pick of the NFL quarterbacks in this draft. He is what he is. You know what you’re getting with Kenny Pickett. You’re getting the guy that can play the position truest to form out of this group of quarterbacks in this draft class. The most NFL-ready from understanding protections to reading the field to processing the information pre-snap, post-snap, going through the reads. Incredibly accurate thrower, especially in the intermediate range…Good size, plays pretty big too…Awesome in the pocket. I mean really, like awesome. He’s a good athlete, he’s twitchy, he can make people miss, there’s good pop in his feet. So, he can make people miss in the pocket that way, but also, he has a great natural feel of where the pocket is…He’s almost always in great position to throw the football, so that’s where he’s really good. He can run and rip off a 10-yard gain. There’s all those aspects to like about him…But I don’t say, ‘Wow’ about anything with Kenny Pickett physically…I don’t know if I necessarily see any trait that is real, real elite other than the fact that the guy can play quarterback and he is the most polished and ready to go of any quarterback in this draft class.”

No. 3: Malik Willis, Liberty

“It’s a special arm, no question. He can make every throw on the football field with ease. As a thrower, he keeps his body in the right positions, understands how to use the front shoulder…His motion is nice. His ability to throw deep balls, balls on the outside that are power throws, they’re effortless. He is a gifted runner…he can accelerate pretty good, and he’s got an incredible pair of legs on him. He understands how to set up blockers like a running back…there are true running back traits there. He breaks a ton of tackles, bounces off people, he has very good quickness and ability to make people miss in the space. …All of these [quarterbacks], I don’t know if they’re really worthy top 10 picks. He’s a naturally more gifted runner than (Trey) Lance. His throwing motion is tight…he’s got the second-quickest release out of all of these quarterbacks. To me, there’s a lot of projection here…You don’t get to see a ton of variety of throws, you don’t get to see a reading of the field. He’s physically more gifted than (Sam Howell and Desmond Ridder). He throws a very catchable ball, he is accurate, all in all…The arm is real.”

No. 4: Sam Howell, North Carolina

“Good in the pocket. There’s a toughness and grittiness to his game that shows in the film. He’s willing to stand in there, take shots. Not the fastest guy in the world, but he is mobile, and he’s got a great pair of legs on him that allows him to break a lot of tackles, make people miss within the pocket…I like that aspect about him. He’s one of the few guys in this draft that I look at that can really go across the field and read defenses…He does have the ability to throw the ball with some different platforms, and he does have a good hand. He’s got some mechanical issues…I don’t like his motion. It’s way too over the top…That does compromise power and accuracy of the ball. But he’s got experience, his arm is good, he had the strongest arm at the Combine in terms of miles per hour. He plays like Baker Mayfield…He’s gritty…He doesn’t have the arm Mayfield does, but I do think his movement and athleticism will translate better in the NFL because he’s a bigger human. There’s potential for him to be a better thrower. I don’t see first-round talent.”

No. 5: Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati

“He’s got a great personality, acts like a quarterback. I think he’s a guy who’s going to continue to grow into his body. Size is his skill…He can throw over the line of scrimmage, he can throw over people when they’re in his face and in the pocket. There are some issues here…It’s below average throwing at this point for an NFL starting quarterback. There are some major tweaks that have to be done in his throwing that are a little concerning to me. The running is real…the read-option is going to be a real threat for Desmond Ridder in the NFL. He is one of those guys, read-option, he keeps it around the edge, he can go for a 70-yard touchdown. The speed is worthy of that. But he’s got the worst feet in the pocket out of any of the top guys. He lets his arm get a little floppy…He’s not a good short ball thrower. There’s things I do like, certainly…throws a pretty good deep ball. He’s a good athlete…there are some physical traits there to build on, there’s just not a lot of evidence yet to go, ‘Oh okay, he definitely can do it.’ All in all, I guess I was expecting a hair more.”

-NBC SPORTS-

 “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-