NBC Sports' Chris Simms recently ranked his top quarterbacks in the upcoming draft, raising some eyebrows. Most view Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance, in that order, as the four best quarterbacks in this draft class. Simms, no stranger to controversial takes, mixed things up a bit.
Below are Simms' top six incoming rookie quarterbacks.
- Zach Wilson, BYU
- Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
- Mac Jones, Alabama
- Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
- Justin Fields, Ohio State
- Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Simms was asked by a fan, via Pro Football Talk, which quarterback on the list Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers might desire the most.
"Well, I think Zach Wilson is the guy that he would like the most. I do," Simms responded. "That's the guy for that system; the movement, the crazy delivery, the power, and the arm. All those things."
Wilson is expected to be the No. 2 overall pick, currently owned by the New York Jets. The 49ers own the No. 12 overall pick following a six-win campaign in 2020. So, where does that leave Simms' close friend, Shanahan?
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"But I also think like a Mac Jones could fit à la a better version of Kirk Cousins, in ways, coming out of the draft," Simms adds, "and can be that guy in that system too. I do. I think, coming out of the draft, and everything like that, Mac Jones is a better thrower, a better arm than Kirk Cousins. His size is a little bit better.
"And again, Mac Jones has this tennis background, right? His feet are unreal. I mean, unreal. Other than Zach Wilson, he has the best feet in the pocket to move and slide and shuffle and do all those things within it.
"So, those would be two guys that I think fit the way Kyle Shanahan would want to play football."
Jones (6-3, 214) had a phenomenal 2020 collegiate campaign. He completed 77.4 percent of his passes for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and four interceptions through 13 games with the Crimson Tide. He earned 2020 Consensus All-America honors and was the recipient of both the Davey O'Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards.
More important, Jones guided Alabama to a National Championship. He was 36-of-45 for 464 yards with five touchdowns in a 52-24 rout of Ohio State.
You can watch Simms' entire breakdown of his ranking below, including his high placement of Mond.