As the NFL offseason approaches its quieter phase, Chris Simms is gearing up to rank the 46 best quarterbacks in the league. With free agency and draft activities wrapping up, fans can look forward to Simms’ new approach in 2025, as he categorizes these players into tiers on a pyramid structure. Last year, he focused on a top-40 list, but this time, he’s creating a clear visual for fans to compare their favorite signal-callers.
Simms has already revealed the first group, which he describes as a “sturdy base” of dependable and reliable quarterbacks. These players can handle a few games if needed but might not be ideal for longer stretches.
Leading this tier is Gardner Minshew of the Kansas City Chiefs. Simms has confidence in Minshew, especially for clutch situations. Next up is Aidan O’Connell with the Las Vegas Raiders, who still has untapped potential and could serve as a solid backup for Geno Smith. The seasoned Andy Dalton is noted as a great mentor to rookie Bryce Young, while Mac Jones, under the guidance of coach Kyle Shanahan, might just prove to be a future star for the San Francisco 49ers.
Other notable mentions in this tier include Tyrod Taylor of the New York Jets and Jarrett Stidham from the Denver Broncos, both of whom have capabilities that could shine given the right opportunity. Rounding out the tier are Kenny Pickett, Cooper Rush, Mason Rudolph, and Jimmy Garoppolo.
Following the sturdy base, the next tier showcases some of the best backups in the league, like Joe Flacco with the Browns, who has a strong arm but struggles with consistency. Malik Willis possesses great potential with the Green Bay Packers, needing to refine his game to reach his full capabilities. Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota also make appearances here, bringing their own unique talents and limitations to the table.
As the NFL prepares for training camps, fans will be eager to see how each of these players performs and which tiers they ultimately land in as the season unfolds.
