You probably won't hear any NFL GM this year say, "We're looking to draft the next Geno Smith." According to Phil Simms, teams looking to take a quarterback in this draft won't even get a quarterback that good. Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater -- Simms, for what it's worth, doesn't sound overly enamored of any of them.
The CBS analyst made those comments on sports radio yesterday, saying that if Smith were in this draft, he'd be the No. 1 quarterback, "without question." Strong words, and he went on to poke holes in each of the perceived top quarterbacks' games.
With Manziel, he isn't buying the Russell Wilson comparison, saying Wilson is more explosive, and the two "aren't even close in arm strength." Bortles, based on the five games he's seen, he isn't impressed with at all, while he thinks Bridgewater has an average arm.
Simms' assessment calls to mind this National Football Post article from January, where the quarterback class is compared to the 2011 group "except there's no Cam Newton." Newton went No. 1 overall that year, but three more quarterbacks were selected in the next 11 picks: Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder.
Simms concedes he hasn't yet broken down tape on all the quarterbacks, but more and more assessments (including Ron Jaworski's earlier in the week) are painting a ho-hum picture of the quarterbacks that will be selected in the first round this May. Some conclusions: NFL teams may not find their franchise quarterback in this draft. Veteran free agents may find a hotter market than you'd expect. And dynasty owners can look at other positions rather than quarterback in their upcoming rookie drafts.
--Andy Richardson