NBC Sports NFL analyst Chris Simms recently released his ranking of the top 40 quarterbacks in the league heading into the 2020 season. Some of the rankings that had fans talking: Joe Burrow at No. 26, Jarrett Stidham at No. 35 and the absence of Tua Tagovailoa .

All three former SEC QBs came up during Simms’ recent appearance on WEEI sports radio network.

“(Stidham is) more talented than Tua,” Simms said. “(Tua) is a creation of Alabama. You don’t think Jarrett Stidham, or like (former Oregon QB) Justin Herbert would have set the world on fire if they got to play with four, first-round receivers and two, first-round tackles?”

Simms made similar points when comparing Burrow and Tagovailoa: Burrow made NFL throws while Tagovailoa’s stats are a credit to his receivers.

“The difference between Tua and Joe Burrow is when I evaluated them, Joe Burrow makes way more high-level, NFL-type throws — people not open, protection not good, he still makes a play. You have a hard time finding that on any of Tua’s tapes,” Simms said. “I don’t give Tua credit when I go, ‘He threw the five-yard slant to a wide-open guy and he ran 80 yards. Woah, he’s so amazing. He’s the only guy who can do that.’ Or like the three receivers on the right all run across the formation and pick for the backfield, the back coming out of the backfield, and he throws a four-yard pass to the only guy who it was intended for on the play and we all go, ‘Look at the quarterback play by Tua.’

“That is the perfect example of what you’re doing for me there. You’re giving all the accolades, Alabama kicks the crap out of everybody for the last 15 years with all these quarterbacks, but now you want to tell me Tua is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I don’t agree with that.”

All three are in the mix to be their team’s starting quarterback this fall. Crimson Tide and Miami Dolphin fans will be sure to remind Simms if his hot take favoring a fourth-round pick over a high first-round pick turns into a freezing cold take.