Chris Simms’ 2026 Quarterback Countdown has started with a provocative early take on Carson Beck’s readiness—even as the Arizona Cardinals signal-caller sits with a third-string label. The ranking stretch also places Ty Simpson, Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson
The countdown is underway, and Chris Simms is already putting his stamp on what “ready” looks like in 2026.
Carson Beck opens the list at No. 43, tied to an Arizona Cardinals situation that can sound confusing from the outside. Beck “may appear to be a third-string quarterback with the Cardinals. ” but Simms argues he has “several attributes that could make him the most ‘game-ready’ quarterback from the 2026 draft class.” The point isn’t subtle: in Simms’ early evaluation. the depth-chart perception doesn’t match the potential he sees in Beck.
From there, the rankings sharpen quickly. Ty Simpson checks in at No. 42 with Los Angeles Rams upside that Simms frames as immediate—“top-12 quarterback potential with Sean McVay in his corner.” He’s followed at No. 41 by Shedeur Sanders. a name Simms describes as “one of the most polarizing players in the game.” The evaluation keeps both sides in view: Sanders “remains raw but has the ability to succeed. ” and Simms adds that “the presence of his family isn’t doing him any favors.”.
The middle of this early run swings between steadiness and uncertainty. Jarrett Stidham lands at No. 40. where Simms calls him “a perfect backup” while also stressing that he has “physical traits to be a starter.” At No. 39. Deshaun Watson arrives with a question hanging over his career path—can he “get back to playing solid football after years of injuries and time off the field?”.
Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills is ranked at No. 38, described as “a quality backup” and an accurate passer, with one key condition in Simms’ breakdown: Mills succeeds “if he doesn’t try to force the ball into tight windows.”
Then J.J. McCarthy at No. 37 adds a familiar tension of tools versus results. Simms credits the former Michigan Wolverine with “all of the tools to be a top quarterback,” but notes that he “has yet to piece everything together.”
The list continues with Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at No. 36. Simms sees a clear opportunity as the chance to prove himself with a new stage: “Tagovailoa has a chance to prove himself with the Atlanta Falcons.”
At No. 35, Marcus Mariota is ranked through the lens of what he brings athletically—“Mariota’s athleticism and arm power land him at No. 35.”
Simms keeps the Raiders connection tight in the final entries provided here. Kirk Cousins is placed at No. 34. with Simms acknowledging decline while still leaving room for effectiveness: “Cousins’ arm strength and athleticism are declining but the veteran can still execute in the right system.” One spot below. No. 33, Fernando Mendoza is the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. landing “just above his Raiders teammate.” Simms’ breakdown focuses on the matchup of expectations inside the same franchise—why Cousins sits higher on the list than Mendoza and what that dynamic looks like in his projection.
Taken in order, Simms’ early rankings read like a debate with the present. Beck’s “third-string” label sits beside an argument that he could be the most “game-ready” passer from the 2026 class. Sanders is pegged as raw enough to be polarizing, yet talented enough to succeed. Watson’s question is still the central one after injury and time away. McCarthy is judged by the tools he owns but the timing of how those tools translate hasn’t arrived yet. In the space between those evaluations. the same theme keeps repeating: the ranking isn’t just about what a quarterback is right now—it’s about what he could become when the circumstances line up.
Chris Simms 2026 QB Countdown Carson Beck Ty Simpson Shedeur Sanders Deshaun Watson Davis Mills J.J. McCarthy Tua Tagovailoa Marcus Mariota Kirk Cousins Fernando Mendoza Arizona Cardinals Los Angeles Rams Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Houston Texans Minnesota Vikings Miami Dolphins Washington Commanders Las Vegas Raiders