Chris Simms' Season 70 QB40 Countdown - #25-16
by JAMoney14 | 3 years ago | 1 Comments
Back again with more of the Season 70 QB40. We all know how quickly Red Zone moves, so it looks like I have to pick up the pace as well! I'll be dropping 10 QBs today, a bonus 5! Whodda thunk it! Like an extra fry at the bottom of your takeout bag.
Here's where we're at so far with #40-26
Let's dive on in with #25.
#25 - Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Mr. Goof actually had a pretty good performance in week 1 against the 49ers until the 2nd half. He did succomb to the horrifying 3-pick-sit but I can't help to think it's not all on him. I think it might speak to how underrated I think Jared Goff is that I have him this high on such a putrid team and an inconsistent, albeit championship winning coach. Goff has a strong enough arm and is very accurate and could easily fall into the sub 20 range on the right team... Hell maybe even sub 15.
#24 - Mac Jones, New England Patriots
And here we have another rookie, Mac Jones.
We already discussed Mac's backup, but at this point in his career, Mac himself may just be better. The one thing that scares me about this kid is his arm. We already know that his accuracy and athleticism are there, but without a rocket like some of these other quarterbacks out there, namely Zach Wilson and Justin Fields, it's going to come down to how he's used. I think this team is primed to win the AFC East, though others disagree, so I think he'll be used in the right way to make that happen.
#23 - Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
Here we are on our run of rookie quarterbacks.
Talk about a transcendent talent in Justin Fields. He probably has the most upside of all of the rookie quarterbacks we'll talk about here, but that doesn't necessarily mean he is going to reach that potential. I think he does have the weapons around him in order to succeed sooner rather than later, just by nature of having a stifling defense that won't force him to overcompensate on offense, and a great rushing attack which again, will not make him be the end-all-be-all. Developed correctly, Justin Fields is an MVP caliber prospect. The speed, the arm strength, the inherent accuracy. The kid can play... but can this coaching staff get him there?
#22 - Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers
Now here's a rookie that has probably close to the same upside as Fields AND the coaching staff that's proven to be able to get him there.
Lance's #1 strength as a rookie is, well, his strength. His cannon arm and unreal athleticism in the open field (I feel like I keep saying that about this rookie class, they are all studs) are going to be nightmarish for years to come once he develops further. While I am happy that he's starting out of the gates for San Fran, I don't think he's quite as good as Jiummy G yet (which we'll get to). Sometimes, you are able to play for the future when you're in such a great roster position as SF is. He wasn't perfect last night, getting sacked 3 times, throwing 2 interceptions, but that will come with time and this team is still a lock for a playoff spot in the NFC.
#21 - Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
I made this list in the preseason and this is one of those picks I am really souring on, but I am no coward and I am not changing my list now.
Big Ben was Big Benched for Cam Newton by the young coaching staff in Pittsburgh and I can definitely see why. I have Ben high because fundamentally speaking, he's regressed, sure, he's slow, sure, he's a probably sexual deviant, also sure, but he's also still Ben Roethlisberger. He's still a champion who brings a level of veteran leadership, awareness, and playmaking ability to your passing game. Ben's still able to make throws a lot of guys can't and I think he's the best option for Pittsburgh, despite his flaws.
#20 - Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Man oh man! Justin Herbert is severely underrated. Hell, I was going to say that before his week 1 performance against the Washington Football Team's hapless defense.
Leading the now-#1 passing attack in the league in week 1, Herbie's got a cannon for an arm as well and is able to get the ball to his star receivers quickly and effectively, only missing a handful of throws when he gets a bit too energetic. I think Herbert flew under the radar his rookie year, I think he flew under the radar in the preseason and I even think he flew under the radar in these rankings. That team is set up perfectly around him and Herbie can (and already has begun) make me eat my words if he can stay consistent. We saw a few bad interceptions in that game, but his poise and come-from behind ability cannot be denied.
#19 - Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints
Who dat!
How about a star making performance in New Orleans last night? Those Packers, led by Fiddy himself, still managed to put up some big points but Jameis led an offense that put 44 points of their own on the board. This league is certainly trending towards huge scoring games and massive offensive statistics, but I don't think Jameis is going to be there.
I have him ranked higher than some of these other guys because we already know who Jameis is. The unknowns are not as prevalent as they are elsewhere in the league. Not only that, but Jameis is surrounded by the most talented roster in the league, save for Tampa Bay. If we just look at the game management from last night and his very experienced coaching staff, we already know Kamara and Tony Jones Jr are going to run that offense, but Jameis is perfectly reasonable as a starting quarterback who could win you some games in the playoffs. He could also lose you some games, so look out for that.
#18 - Ryan Fitzpatrick, Washington Football Team
At number 18 we have the journeyman legend himself, Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick clocks in to a 16-25 section that is so incredibly volatile for all the best reasons. Fitzy gets the nod over guys like Herbert and Fields because of his supporting cast. Samuel, McLaurin, Gibson, and apparently, as we saw in week 1, rookie WR Dyami Brown. Fitz is obviously lacking in the speed and arm strength department, which has not deterred him at all in his playstyle, still showing off some of that Fitzmagic that made him so popular online. That said, Fitz is still capable of managing a game like the veteran he is and leading this team deep into the playoffs. Much like Jameis Winston, it's going to come down to how much Washington wants/needs him to do. Clearly in week 1, he was relied on too much as that defense allowed nearly 50 points, but if they can avoid that, Fitz is positioned perfectly.
#17 - Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Staying in the NFC East, we have the newest star in Philly now that Carson Wentz has been sent to rot in Indianapolis, Jalen Hurts.
Hurts was seen by many as a rookie as a "gadget" player or not a pure QB, and I don't think that could be further from the truth. What have you people not learned about disparaging athletic QBs in this day and age? This is not 1997, teams are not going to sabotage their QBs by putting them in situations they will not succeed. With 1 year of experience over guys like Lance and Fields, I have to give the nod to Hurts this year despite his toolkit being far less versatile than those guys. Some are low on Hurts and think he'll be gone from Philly within a season or two, but I think that would be a mistake. Even in the incredible week 1 comeback Philly showed, he wasn't Tom Brady, but he showed flashes of being Philly's guy for the cycle and I think they should invest everything into him to make that happen.
#16 - Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
Murmers out of Titans front office say that they are very low on Ryan Tanny and for the life of me I can't understand why.
Tannehill falls outside of that elite tier of QBs, sure, but he's almost a perfect combination of everything you want a QB to be in this era. He has speed to playmake if things fall apart. He has unbelievable accuracy, especially for a guy who used to be a friggin' WR. He has enough arm strength to get the ball into tight windows.
Tanny deserves much more respect from media pundits around the league. I have him rated lower than he probably should be due to his coaching staff (a staff that clearly is not a fan of him), but in the right hands, Tannehill could be a top 5 QB in this league.
Whew!
That's a lot to cover and we're not done yet. We've hit the top 15! Expect another 10 as we approach the top 5 for the next article.
Here's where we're at so far!
See you next time! Simms' out.