Lamar Jackson Is No. 1 in Chris Simms’ Annual Quarterback Rankings
Despite being a two-time MVP, Lamar Jackson had never cracked the top three in NBC Sports’ Chris Simms’ annual quarterback rankings.
Until now, that is. Simms put Jackson at No. 1 on this year’s list.
“Nobody’s playing quarterback right now better than Lamar Jackson,” Simms said on the “Chris Simms Unbuttoned” podcast. “He’s conquered something that I’ve only seen a few people conquer in my whole life with his skillset. Arguably the greatest running quarterback in the history of the game, he has become unreal in the pocket [with] making decisions throwing the football.”
The Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, who edged out Jackson to win the MVP award in 2024, was No. 2. Allen was followed by the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow and the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, respectively. Simms had the same quarterbacks in his top four last year, with Jackson and Mahomes switching spots.
Simms explained why he placed Jackson at No. 1 despite voting for Allen for MVP. He also admitted that he has second-guessed his MVP vote.
“[Jackson] had a better support system around him. He didn’t always have to make magic happen on a week-to-week basis like Josh Allen did, so that’s why I gave Josh Allen the MVP,” Simms said. “But that doesn’t mean [Allen] played as good a quarterback play on a week-to-week basis. Lamar Jackson is out of this world.
“He’s one of those where I go back and I go, ‘I don’t know, did I make the right vote?’ I’m not sure.”