Simms’ Top 40 QB Countdown Culminates with the Top Four on Monday, June 13; In-Depth Breakdowns for Each Ranking Weekly on Chris Simms Unbuttoned Podcast

Jameis Winston (No. 26), Mitchell Trubisky (No. 27), Marcus Mariota (No. 28), Tua Tagovailoa (No. 29), and Jared Goff (No. 30) Ranked #26-30 in the Simms Top 40 QB Countdown

“Some of the plays and throws he makes, you go, ‘That’s top-15 quarterback territory.’”– Simms on Winston at No. 26

“I think they can win with Tua. They just can’t put it all on his back and expect him to carry the team.”– Simms on Tagovailoa at No. 29

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 24, 2022 – Over the course of the next month, NBC Sports’ Chris Simms will unveil his list of the top 40 quarterbacks in the NFL on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and on “PFT Live.” Highlighting Simms’ latest rankings are 2019 NFL passing yards leader Jameis Winston of the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins quarterback and No. 5 overall pick in 2020 Tua Tagovailoa, and former No. 1 overall pick (by Los Angeles Rams) Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions.

Continuing the countdown, Simms unveiled his quarterbacks ranked 26-30. Simms’ quarterbacks ranked 26-40:

 

26.	Jameis Winston, New Orleans	34.	Tyler Huntley, Baltimore
27.	Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh	35.	Davis Mills, Houston
28.	Marcus Mariota, Atlanta	36.	Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants
29.	Tua Tagovailoa, Miami	37.	Gardner Minshew, Philadelphia
30.	Jared Goff, Detroit	38.	Teddy Bridgewater, Miami
31.	Trey Lance, San Francisco	39.	Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
32.	Sam Darnold, Carolina	40.	Drew Lock, Seattle
33.	Geno Smith, Seattle

 

Beginning last week and culminating Monday, June 13 with his top four 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 has had recent success in projecting quarterbacks – including those coming out of college by 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.

The rankings will continue Wednesday, May 25 with numbers 25-21 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

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

No. 30: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

“He does have size. He’s tough. He is a pretty good athlete, but I wish he would use his athleticism more. He’s played in some big football games, so he certainly knows how to handle a bit of pressure. His arm is strong, but at times he can lose control. There’s inconsistency in his mechanics…that compromises some of his power. He’s a pretty good decision maker, but he’s not going to carry the team through a tough spot. There is some systematic help that is needed for Jared Goff. This is the year, to me, that is make-or-break. He did nothing last year to solidify in the [Lions’] brain, ‘You’re the guy for the future.’”

No. 29: Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

“He’s got charisma and leadership. He is a very good athlete. He’s slick with his different releases except he does not have a strong arm. He has accuracy…and of course he can run and scramble. There are a lot of big-time throws and yards left on the field on a consistent basis. Playing in the pocket against good defenses, he plays small and he makes bad decisions. I think it’s a great fit for Tua and [Dolphins head coach] Mike McDaniel. With Tyreek [Hill] and [Jaylen] Waddle, it all fits him just right…I think they can win with Tua. They just can’t put it all on his back and expect him to carry the team like Josh Allen.”

No. 28: Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons

“He can really run and he has a pretty damn good arm, and within that, has pretty good control. He’s a little more robotic…but there’s a reason he’s a starter here in Atlanta. He did take a team to the playoffs, and [Atlanta] is going to play a style of football where they’re going to use his ability to run as a threat. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s smart…I think there are some qualities there that are a little better than Tua [Tagovailoa]. I expect it to be a pretty long leash with Mariota [this season].”

No. 27: Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers

“I think it’s going to be tough for Kenny Pickett to beat him out because there’s real, tangible talent with this guy. His arm is stronger than Ben [Roethlisberger’s] was at the end of his career, he’s obviously a better athlete…That’s where I’d be excited. I’d like him to be a little more of a machine throwing the football. Like [Marcus] Mariota, there’s a reason he was drafted in the top five. It’s an athletic ability that’s up there with a lot of the top athletes at the position.”

No. 26: Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints

“He’s amazing in the pocket. His athletic ability is always better than I remember it being. He is a big-time thrower of the football between 10 and 20 yards. [Last season] there was some growth and he’s coachable and he can play a different style of football. I think there will be less pressure without Sean Payton breathing down his neck. There are some things he needs to improve on…but some of his high-end stuff is high-end. Some of the plays and throws he makes, you go, ‘That’s top-15 quarterback territory.’”

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

-NBC SPORTS-

King Ranks All NFL Teams 1-32

“I don’t know that you can say the Bills are overwhelming favorites to get to their first Super Bowl in 29 years…But they’re the favorites for sure.” – King on ranking the Bills at No. 1

“As long as Patrick Mahomes is healthy and dealing, Kansas City’s going to be a Super Bowl contender. That’s how I look at this edition of this team.” – King on ranking the Chiefs at No. 3

“I just don’t take for granted that 45-year-old [Tom] Brady will just pick up where he left off. The Bucs will be seriously challenged by the Saints.” – King on the Buccaneers at No. 6 and the Saints at No. 11

“On their best day, the Cowboys can play with everyone except maybe Buffalo. Problem is, they don’t have enough best days.” – King on the Cowboys at No. 15

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 23, 2022 – Peter King shares his 2022 NFL power rankings with the Buffalo Bills in the top spot in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King breaks down each team from 1-32, including the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 2, the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 3, the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams at No. 4, and Green Bay Packers at No. 5. Other rankings include Tampa Bay at No. 6 the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals at No. 7, Dallas at No. 15, and New England at No. 17. King also discusses the NFL’s Coach and Front-Office Accelerator program.

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 are highlights from this week’s edition of Football Morning in America:

PETER KING’S 2022 NFL POWER RANKINGS

1) Buffalo Bills	17) New England Patriots
2) Los Angeles Chargers	18) Cleveland Browns
3) Kansas City Chiefs	19) Minnesota Vikings
4) Los Angeles Rams	20) Detroit Lions
5) Green Bay Packers	21) Indianapolis Colts
6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers	22) Arizona Cardinals
7) Cincinnati Bengals	23) Pittsburgh Steelers
8) Baltimore Ravens	24) New York Giants
9) Philadelphia Eagles	25) Seattle Seahawks
10) San Francisco 49ers	26) Washington Commanders
11) New Orleans Saints	27) New York Jets
12) Tennessee Titans	28) Chicago Bears
13) Las Vegas Raiders	29) Jacksonville Jaguars
14) Denver Broncos	30) Atlanta Falcons
15) Dallas Cowboys	31) Carolina Panthers
16) Miami Dolphins	32) Houston Texans

 

King on his offseason power rankings: “The whole idea is to try to pick three or five risers and a couple of fallers, with the understanding that virtually every year there are three or four teams that surprise people. I only have one stunner this year, but a few things should raise ire.”

King on the Bills at No. 1: “I don’t know that you can say the Bills are overwhelming favorites to get to their first Super Bowl in 29 years, what with road games against both Super Bowl teams, home games with both conference top seeds, and a roadie with nemesis Kansas City; KC’s won three of four Mahomes-Allen duels. But they’re the favorites for sure.”

King on the Bills: “I think GM Brandon Beane has done a good job worrying about today while prepping for tomorrow. Beane understands the vital thing is to surround a top-tier franchise quarterback with enough weapons to survive a 17-games-plus-postseason minefield. And Josh Allen definitely has enough to win…A team that obliterated New England and got the overtime coin-flip rule changed in the playoffs is better today than it was in January.”

King on the Chargers at No. 2: “I thought [GM Tom Telesco] won this offseason…Trading for Khalil Mack, though a bit of a health gamble, gives L.A. as good a 1-2 pass-rush tandem with Joey Bosa as any team in football. In the secondary, the Chargers added the best corner in free agency, J.C. Jackson. And [Justin] Herbert should be better if the defense is better, because he won’t have to score 30 every week to win.”

King on the Chiefs at No. 3: “As long as Patrick Mahomes is healthy and dealing, and as long as [head coach] Andy Reid/[GM] Brett Veach have a competitive roster, Kansas City’s going to be a Super Bowl contender. Annually. That’s how I look at this edition of this team. For Kansas City, this offseason has been as much about 2024 as 2022. It’ll be up to Mahomes to win some games with his golden arm to prove this is not a gap year. I think he can do it.”

King on the Rams at No. 4: “The four biggest player drivers to a championship are back and should be as good as ever: Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey. And do not underestimate the force that is [head coach] Sean McVay in moving this team forward. Some coaches coach the team. McVay coaches the team, sets the organizational tone, and gives the team a fervor during the week and certainly on Sundays.”

King on the Packers at No. 5: “They have Aaron Rodgers, coming off two straight MVP seasons. They have a very good running game. They have what should be a top-three NFL defense by Dec. 1. They have a top cornerback, Jaire Alexander. That gives the Packers probably the best chance of any NFC team to win home-field for the third straight year.”

King on the Buccaneers at No. 6: “I just don’t take for granted that 45-year-old [Tom] Brady will just pick up where he left off. Even with bottom-feeders Carolina and Atlanta to get fat off, the Bucs will be seriously challenged by the Saints…I doubt the coaching change to Todd Bowles will be much of a factor. The schedule might be the biggest factor of all.”

King on the Bengals at No. 7: “I like Cincinnati to edge Baltimore for the division title, but a deep run will be tough with a first-place schedule…The Bengals are a team on the rise, without question. I don’t think they can beat Buffalo this year, but in the long haul, I love their prospects to contend in the [Joe] Burrow years.”

King on the Cowboys at No. 15: “I picked the Eagles ahead of Dallas because the Eagles got significantly better this offseason and Dallas (got) worse, with the subtraction of two key contributors (Amari Cooper and Randy Gregory) and the addition of none. On their best day, the Cowboys can play with everyone except maybe Buffalo. Problem is, they don’t have enough best days.”

King on the Lions at No. 20: “Consider how hard they played in a disastrous rookie year of coach Dan Campbell, and how, despite winning only three games, they were 11-6 against the spread, indicative of a team outperforming expectations. Of course, it’s [Jared] Goff who has to be more productive for the Lions to play meaningful December football. This is one of the most interesting teams in football.”

King on the Cardinals at No. 22: “Something doesn’t feel right about the 2022 Cards. Part of it’s the pointed dissatisfaction of quarterback Kyler Murray and his agent over a new contract. Part is the six-game suspension of the best player on the offense, DeAndre Hopkins, to start the season. It’s an odd vibe around the team, and the attitude in negotiations with Murray this summer will tell a lot about the chemistry of the locker room coming training camp.”

NEWS & NOTES

King on the Coach and Front-Office Accelerator program: “The meeting is in response to the slow pace of minority hiring of NFL coaches and GMs…The glacier broke apart a bit recently, with four Black GMs hired over the last 17 months and three minority coaches hired this year. But in the coaching ranks, where the lack of minority hires has been acute, only three Black coaches were hired in the four hiring cycles from 2018 to 2021.”

NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent on the Coach and Front-Office Accelerator program: “Is this the answer? No. Is it part of a solution? It may be. This is a new day. It’s not about forcing anyone to hire anyone. It’s about exposing good coaches to those who make the calls.”

King: “The NFL can’t look for results next year, and maybe not even in 2024. This has to be a long-term commitment. This kind of exposure – owners encountering Black candidates they’ve never met – has to continue every year in some form.”

Vincent: “My hope is that some owners and decision-makers will come back from this meeting and say, ‘I met some people I did not know, and who I was very impressed with.’ They go back to their team and say, ‘I want to get these people on our radar when we might have a decision to make.’ That’s why these kinds of meetings are important.”

King on the Bills: “I think kudos are in order for the Buffalo Bills, taking half-a-day to go en masse to the site of the Tops supermarket shooting that left 10 local citizens dead. What a great comfort to those in the community to see the Bills show up in support of grieving and heartbroken people.”

Read the full FMIA column here and catch the weekly Peter King Podcast here.

The following are additional highlights of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage:

• • PFT Live with NBC Sports’ Mike Florio and Mike Golic (Mondays) and Florio and Chris Simms (Tuesday-Thursday) streams on Peacock from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. ET on weekdays & is available on-demand. The Dan Patrick Show streams at 9 a.m. ET, The Rich Eisen Show at Noon ET, Brother From Another at 3 p.m. ET, PFT PM at 5 p.m. ET. At 6 p.m. ET, Chris Simms Unbuttoned streams Tuesday-Friday.
  • ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest news and updates.
  • NBC Sports EDGE’s A Good Football Show continues the NFL discussion and Bet The Edge Podcast provides daily betting insights.

A new “Football Morning in America” posts every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com through the NFL season. It was announced in May 2019 that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.

—NBC SPORTS—

Simms’ Top 40 QB Countdown Culminates with the Top Four on Monday, June 13; In-Depth Breakdowns for Each Ranking Weekly on Chris Simms Unbuttoned Podcast

Trey Lance (No. 31), Sam Darnold (No. 32), Geno Smith (No. 33), Tyler Huntley (No. 34), and Davis Mills (No. 35) Ranked #31-35 in the Simms Top 40 QB Countdown

“The arm is ridiculously strong and he’s a good athlete. I think the accuracy is still the biggest question…You’ve got to start him. The 49ers are a Super Bowl team.”– Simms on Lance at No. 31

“If [the Panthers] slip up and he doesn’t play well, I think he’ll have a short leash this year.”– Simms on Darnold at No. 32

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 19, 2022 – Over the course of the next month, NBC Sports’ Chris Simms will unveil his list of the top 40 quarterbacks in the NFL on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and on “PFT Live.” Highlighting Simms’ latest rankings are 2021 third overall pick Trey Lance of the San Francisco 49ers, current Carolina Panthers starter Sam Darnold, and second-year signal caller Davis Mills of the Houston Texans.

Continuing the countdown, Simms unveiled his quarterbacks ranked 31-35:

 

31.	Trey Lance, San Francisco
32.	Sam Darnold, Carolina
33.	Geno Smith, Seattle
34.	Tyler Huntley, Baltimore
35.	Davis Mills, Houston

 

Beginning earlier this week and culminating Monday, June 13 with his top four quarterbacks in the league, Simms will unveil four 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 has had recent success in projecting quarterbacks – including those coming out of college by 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.

The rankings will continue Monday, May 23 with numbers 30-26 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

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

No. 35: Davis Mills, Houston Texans

“One of the more pleasant surprises. He’s got some ability in his game, more than I gave him credit for coming out of Stanford. He knows how to play in the pocket…He can read a defense and make the appropriate decision. He’s not a ‘thrower,’ he’s a ‘passer.’ He’s more about timing and rhythm and anticipation. It’s not huge talent, but it’s good talent, and his ability to play the position is pretty advanced for the age he’s at right now. That’s why I put him ahead of guys like Tyrod Taylor and Teddy Bridgewater…He started making plays and dictating the game himself…If he stays on the course, he’s going to be the starter and be the guy.”

No. 34: Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens

“He maybe was put in the toughest spot of anybody last year. He has a pretty strong arm, he can push the ball down the field, and he can put enough zip on it to put some balls into tight windows over the middle to Mark Andrews and company. The other thing I love about him is he does want to stay in the pocket…He’s a pretty good decision maker. He showed a little bit of a ‘clutch’ gene – the way he played in the Packers and Rams games, he certainly wasn’t afraid of the big lights of the moment. He’s going upwards. I love his game. He’ll be a low-end starter when it’s all said and done.”

No. 33: Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

“Geno’s big, [his] arm is big, plays in the pocket pretty damn well. [His] release is legit one of the quicker releases in all of football. He’s found the right way to throw the ball for him…It’s a little over the top, but it’s quick. I thought he played really good football against some good teams. He made throws or plays that really changed the game or changed the field position. People are not giving Geno Smith enough credit for his ability…I would say Geno is more accurate and throws the ball better (than Drew Lock). I do think he has the talent and potential to be a mainstay type of starter in the NFL. He’s never going to be top 15, but I do think he can be that guy.”

No. 32: Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers

“He can move and run better than people realize. He doesn’t have any different arm angles – every throw is pretty much the same with [him]. He has a very quick release. That’s the one thing I’ve always liked about him. He doesn’t see the field that well…my biggest complaint about him more than anything is he still misses too many of the big throws down the field. Decision making? Big question mark. Leadership, what he brings to the team? There’s not much. Tyler Huntley, Gardner Minshew, those guys bring something to the offense with their leadership…there’s none of that with Sam Darnold. If [the Panthers] slip up and he doesn’t play good, I think he’ll have a short leash this year.”

No. 31: Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers

“I see the talent, the potential. There’s no doubt. The arm is ridiculously strong and he’s a good athlete. I think the accuracy is still the biggest question – just the pure ability to be a passer and a thrower and then the ability to throw the appropriate ball. I think the thing that’s concerning is…almost 50% of his completions are, ‘Whoa, that guy barely caught it.’ You see very few quarterback plays. Too many of the big plays were just (head coach Kyle) Shanahan serving it up on a platter. Shanahan will highlight the good things he does, and that will help the growing curve. You’ve got to start him…the 49ers are a Super Bowl team.”

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

-NBC SPORTS-