FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 1st, 2022

BAKER MAYFIELD, MAC JONES, CARSON WENTZ & JIMMY GAROPPOLO RANKED 17-20 ON CHRIS SIMMS’ TOP 40 QUARTERBACK COUNTDOWN, NOW ON “CHRIS SIMMS UNBUTTONED” AND “PRO FOOTBALL TALK”

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

“Maybe the best rookie decision-maker I’ve ever seen.”– Simms on Jones at No. 18

“This is his last chance. He will be relegated to a backup if he doesn’t make it happen this year.”– Simms on Wentz at No. 19

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 1, 2022 – Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones of the New England Patriots, Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz, and Jimmy Garoppolo, fresh off an appearance in the NFC Championship Game with the San Francisco 49ers, highlight the latest installment of Chris Simms’ countdown of the top 40 quarterbacks in the NFL.

NBC Sports’ Simms continues his countdown of the best quarterbacks in the NFL on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast and on “PFT Live,” unveiling quarterbacks 17-20.

Simms’ quarterbacks ranked 17-40:

17. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland 29. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami
18. Mac Jones, New England 30. Jared Goff, Detroit
19. Carson Wentz, Washington 31. Trey Lance, San Francisco
20. Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 32. Sam Darnold, Carolina
21. Daniel Jones, New York Giants 33. Geno Smith, Seattle
22. Zach Wilson, New York Jets 34. Tyler Huntley, Baltimore
23. Justin Fields, Chicago 35. Davis Mills, Houston
24. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville 36. Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants
25. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia 37 Gardner Minshew, Philadelphia
26. Jameis Winston, New Orleans 38. Teddy Bridgewater, Miami
27. Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh 39. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
28. Marcus Mariota, Atlanta 40. Drew Lock, Seattle

 

Beginning in May 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 Thursday, June 2 with numbers 13-16 on the next episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

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

No. 20: Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers

“There’s plenty to like about his game. He has a tangible leadership effect on the football team. Very quick release. He’s very good in the pocket. He does not need to have his feet in the proper position to make 10- and 20-yard throws down the field. It’s not a big arm – there are a number of plays and yards left on the field. I think he’s better than [49ers quarterback Trey] Lance right now. But I do think Lance has the chance to surpass Jimmy Garoppolo coming down the home stretch. As far as fitting the 49ers, that’s where I think Trey Lance has an advantage over Jimmy Garoppolo.”

No. 19: Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders

“Wentz can really make some game-changing plays and throws. He’s a better athlete [than Jimmy Garoppolo]. But we’re seeing two years in a row where teams are like, ‘Please leave the locker room. See you on the next team.’ I hear he can be a little tough to coach. He seems to be a little clueless around the circumstances surrounding the team. [He] has top-10 talent. But can you trust him? This is his last chance. He will be relegated to a backup if he doesn’t make it happen this year.”

No. 18: Mac Jones, New England Patriots

“He had as much pressure as we’ve ever seen on a rookie quarterback. Incredible accuracy. He’s a way better athlete than he gets credit for. He made a lot of big-time throws down the field. Maybe the best rookie decision-maker I’ve ever seen. I cannot put Zach Wilson above him yet. I wouldn’t be shocked to see, like Joe Burrow from Year 1 to Year 2, his arm looking a little stronger this year. The Patriots trusted Mac Jones more than the 49ers trusted [Jimmy] Garoppolo or the Colts trusted [Carson] Wentz.”

No. 17: Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns

“Baker Mayfield has a game-changing arm. He sees the field pretty well. He’s not a great athlete, but he’s quick in the pocket. But when you talk about his effect as a leader, it’s pretty damn good. His arm is in the top 10 or 12 in football, in terms of strength. He’s better than people give him credit for. All he did was gut it out and play hard. He’s at the point in his career where he can’t just have a year of not playing quarterback.”

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

-NBC SPORTS-