Why Did Chris Simms Rank Texans QB C.J. Stroud Below Anthony Richardson?
Former NFL quarterback and current NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms has begun unveiling his annual countdown of the top 40 quarterbacks, and Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has debuted on the list.
Simms ranked Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick, as the 37th quarterback in the NFL entering the 2023 season:
"He's in a spot here where it's a great offense for him," Simms said of Stroud. "The Shanahan play-action ... be aggressive ... throw the ball that way, it's perfect for C.J. Stroud. Stroud is awesome in the pocket. He is just a pure bullseye thrower of the football. And that's where I'm excited for him."
Stroud actually checked in a spot ahead of the No. 1 overall pick, Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers. This shouldn't be especially surprising given that Simms had Stroud ranked as the best quarterback in the 2023 class leading up to last month's NFL Draft.
What is interesting is that Stroud isn't the highest-ranked rookie on Simms' quarterback countdown. That instead went to Anthony Richardson, who was taken by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 4 overall pick and checked in at 36 on the countdown. So what gives?
"This is why context does matter," Simms said when asked. "And again, these rankings don't mean this is what I think these guys are gonna be two, three years from now. I mean, obviously, the way I ranked them, I think C.J. Stroud is gonna be the man in two years, three years.
"But, where I just go right now -- and again, it's about now -- Anthony Richardson's adjustment to the NFL is going to be easier than the other two because of his ability to run. They're gonna have something to rely on that's real positive and going to simplify the game for him that way."
On top of that, for whatever issues the Colts had last year, Richardson probably has a better supporting cast at this moment. New head coach Shane Steichen has worked with Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts in the infancies of their NFL careers. Jonathan Taylor is one of the five best running backs in the sport.
But it will be interesting to compare and contrast Stroud in Richardson, both in 2023 and moving forward. It's unclear if Richardson will open the season as the starter for the Colts, but if he does, Week 2 will seemingly be the first year of bi-annual matchups between him and Stroud for the foreseeable future.
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