Baker Mayfield Lands In Top-14 In Chris Simms’ QB Rankings
May 27th, 2026
“You left me for Brock Purdy? Really?”
Joe hopes Mike Evans is paying attention to Chris Simms’ annual quarterback rankings.
The former Bucs QB and current NBC analyst watches a full season of film and provides a deep breakdown and ranking over many hours via his Unbuttoned podcast.
Evans now plays for the 49ers, his choice instead of playing for Tampa Bay and quarterback Baker Mayfield. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy ranked No. 17 on Simms’ list.
Interestingly, Simms is highly skeptical of Purdy having a strong connection with Evans. A close friend of 49ers head coach/playcaller Kyle Shanahan, Simms says Purdy does not uncork deep balls and back shoulder throws that Evans is used to seeing from Baker Mayfield. The Purdy arm talent isn’t on the same plane, he says.
After Purdy on the count-up is Denver Broncos starter Bo Nix at No. 16. And then came Jordan Love of Green Bay at No. 15.
Simms hasn’t released the top-14 yet. He started this year’s list at No. 43 (rookie Carson Beck). So that means Mayfield is at least in the top-14.
Joe is a fan of Simms and Joe knows how much work he puts into his annual exercise. Team Glazer also knows Simms, who got a lot of face time in the Raise The Flags: 50 Years of Buccaneers Football documentary.
Joe wonders whether Team Glazer will see Mayfield’s final ranking by Simms and start squirming a bit knowing Mayfield has no contract for the 2027 season.
May 27th, 2026 at 11:24 am
I hate that Mike left. But at this point in his career he wants to win. Mayfield might be the better QB but the 49ers are the better team. So what that Purdy doesn’t throw as good of a deep ball? That is what kept Mike hurt this past season.
May 27th, 2026 at 11:28 am
I still think the Bucs should theme Baker’s life around the number 21 since he ranked the 21st QB by BSPN. Let the man carry the chip, so long as the chip doesn’t get in the way of his throwing motion.
May 27th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
avejoe85. I like that Mike left. At this point in his career he doesn’t know what he wants. Purdy might be the better QB, but the Bucs are the better team. So what Purdy doesn’t throw as good of a deep ball? That is what kept Mike irrelevant this past season- he’s not about to beat anyone on a deep ball. And if someone slips and he gets a step, he’ll drop the perfect throw anyway. Then injure himself for a month. Can’t wait to see our young receivers busting for some yards after catch instead of falling down and waiting to be touched.
May 27th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
You see Josh Jacobs was arrested.
Wonder if he will miss week 4 now?
Could be great
May 27th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
This Guy needs to get his contract redone before the season starts. It will be all we hear about if it isn’t.
We lucked out and so did ‘Born Again’ Baker falling into out laps post TB12. This guy is a Franchise QB. Get it done! Go BUCS!!
May 27th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
Kenton that’s the one thing that drove me crazy about Evans. He constantly fell down when he caught the ball! He’s a big, strong dude. He should have been fighting for YAC and using stiff arms and the like to gain extra yards on every play. Enough of that falling down nonsense!
Sign Baker! Now! Today! Give him whatever he wants. I have a feeling he wants to be on a good football team so remind him of that and see if you can make a team friendly deal with him. Everyone wants to win the Super Bowl and cap money is crucial for that…
May 27th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
The problem with going to the 49ers isn’t just Purdy, it’s the division they’re in and the amount of miles they are going to be traveling. LOL
ENJOY!
May 27th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Also Mike left because he didn’t like that we drafted Egbuka. The Bucs just beat the 49ers last year and Baker is a great QB. He didn’t like all the competition for the ball. With the 49ers, he is the #1 receiver for sure and those targets are what he wants. He thinks he needs them to make a run for the HOF but he’s already a first ballot HOF member so he didn’t need to do it! Also, he hangs out with LeSean McCoy who is not a good guy and not a Baker fan.
Bye, Mike.
May 27th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
“A close friend of 49ers head coach/playcaller Kyle Shanahan, Simms says Purdy does not uncork deep balls and back shoulder throws that Evans is used to seeing from Baker Mayfield.”
Purdy has led the league for 3 straight years in efficiency passing the ball 10 yards or more. Pretty sure Mike will factor into that lol
Per Warren Sharp 4/10/26:
NFL leader in completion rate on passes 10+ yards downfield:
2025 leader: Brock Purdy (#1 of 32 QBs)
2024 leader: Brock Purdy (#1 of 34 QBs)
2023 leader: Brock Purdy (#1 of 31 QBs)
This all sounds like it is fueled by denial
May 27th, 2026 at 12:36 pm
“Also Mike left because he didn’t like that we drafted Egbuka.”
Fan fiction being used to paint Mike as selfish or wanting more than we could give him. Lying about Evans’ motivations for leaving because there’s enough unsaid on his part, and now trying to make him out as a villain of sort is weak as hell.
May 27th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
It’s true. No other explanation makes any sense. He will have to travel more, he took less money. The Bucs beat the 9’ers. There’s no other logic other than targets that makes sense. That doesn’t make Mike into a villain, he just made a choice. Simple as that. I don’t personally see Mike as a villain. Never did and won’t ever.
He sees Egbuka and all the other receiver talent we have as limiting his potential/targets. Nothing wrong with that and he’s entitled to his opinion.
May 27th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
“It’s true. No other explanation makes any sense”
You cannot make that determination, as someone who’ll make things up as if Mike said it. You and a few others on here are doing the same line of rhetoric without any substantial evidence because of denial. You don’t want to take the stuff Mike actually said as truth, so let’s make up reasons to make ourselves feel better.
It’s corny Pete, and I’m here to call you out on that BS. Cut it out and stop lying.
May 27th, 2026 at 12:49 pm
avejoe85, you think Baker is better than Purdy? I wouldn’t be so sure about that.
May 27th, 2026 at 12:51 pm
There is no other logical explanation unless he doesn’t like living in Florida. San Fran is really nice but not that much nicer to take a pay cut. He’s in a really tough division now. Making the playoffs will be very difficult. People could argue either team is the better team and either qb is better so that’s a wash.
What other logical explanation *is* there? I’ve thought about this quite a lot and logic is missing in any other explanation.
May 27th, 2026 at 12:52 pm
@WBL: Then why did he leave? Did he leave because the 49ers fans cheer louder than us? The Bucs are a good team in a bad division, the 49ers are a good (far from great) team in a great division. Competition must have played some sort of role in his decision…..no?
May 27th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
3-28 & 4–14 is why he left.
I am sorry. I meant to say T. Bowles is why he left. 100%
May 27th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
He’s already re-signed with Bowles as his coach. Try again.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
@Anyhony
It’s been long enough, and Mike has talked enough and given those reasons. The same internet you’re using to ask me that question you can go look up for yourself. Now, the tricky part is-would you even believe Mike for his reasons he wanted to goto SF or would you combat those reasons with denial?
I’m not some Mike Evans whisperer, but as a fan of the game and this team, it feels a bit much reading fans make up reasons for Mike to leave so they can simply punctuate a speculative post with “bye Mike”, that’s lame to me.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Mike hasn’t given a single logical reason why he left. So either he made an emotional choice in defiance of logic or he made a business-like career-focused decision designed to help propel him into the HOF. Thinking about it logically, he does have a better chance of more targets and receptions with SF which further increase his chances of making it into the HOF. I do think he already gets in easily, but he might not. Again, I have thought about this at length. If you were him, what would you be thinking and do? Through process of elimination and empathy, that’s what I came up with. Opinions may vary. But the logic is difficult to refute.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Purdy: 5-3 in the Playoffs , two Conference title games, and a SB appearance.
Mayfield: 2-3 in the Playoffs , zero sniffs at a conference title game or the SB.
The NFC West is vastly superior to the NFC South. Not even close.
Purdy knows how to beat the Rams. Mayfield just sh@ts the bed vs the Rams.
In four years Purdy has done things Mayfield will never accomplish.
And Mayfield has been in the NFL for 8 years.
The comparison is an absolute joke. Mike left for great reasons.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Baker before the by was Top-3.
After the bye last year, he was Bottom-3.
Hopefully, that is due to playing with multiple injuries, and I think it was.
So, when healthy, I think Baker can be a solid Top-5 QB.
But sit his a$$ if he’s too injured to play well.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
BROCK>baker
Simms is still a bucs fan lol….
Mike left for a better QB & OC…
GO BUCS!!!!
May 27th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
So you’re saying he wanted to be in a better…division? Your posts never make sense LynchMob, but this one is for the record books.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
I think you first commenter ,avejoe was spot on. Purdy is vastly underrated. Again yes maybe Baker is the better qb, but San Fran is overall in many ways the better Organization. Evans did not leave because of Baker. I think to most of us including Ira, he left because San Francisco is a team likely headed back to the playoffs over the next couple of years. The Bucs with that defense are just not in that category yet. Evans did not like the way the direction the Bucs are going.
I think it is that simple. He wasn’t buying what they were selling. That had nothing to do with Baker
May 27th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Stpetematt Says:
“So you’re saying he wanted to be in a better…division? Your posts never make sense LynchMob, but this one is for the record books.”
Breath while you read so you can comprehend. Mike left despite the NFC West being vastly superior, taking a pay cut, and a tax hike. He wanted out in the worst way. 3rd and 28.
My posts don’t make sense? Says the guy calling Bowels a great coach!!!
Laughable at best sir. Keep drinking that Kool-Aid.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
“Mike hasn’t given a single logical reason why he left”
Things Evans has said about HIS decision:
“I did my research on a lot of teams that I was looking at. I was looking at contenders, guys with good quarterbacks obviously,” Evans said Thursday. “So I was looking at here, Buffalo Bills, teams that needed a number one wide receiver. This was my number one spot on my own. And then I talked to John and Kyle and it solidified it for me. I’ve always been a fan of Kyle. He just talked about how he sees me in this offense and it just made me even happier. It was a no-brainer really after I got on the phone with him.”
“They always compete, even with the injuries last year.” he said. “I feel like they were one piece away and I think that I’m that piece. I look forward to coming here and proving that.”
“I always feel like I got to prove something,” Evans said. “I always felt like I can be better. I want to show that I’m still who people believe that I am, and that’s one of the best to ever do it.”
“[He’s a] true professional. Really, really underrated player,” Evans said of Purdy. “His first start was against my Buccaneers back in 2022, and I saw right then and there that, if I play with him, I feel like I can help him out a lot. And, you know, he’s already a really good player. I hope I can help him get to where he wants to go in his career, and that’s to be a Super Bowl champion, potential MVP, and just have a great career here in San Francisco.”
Sounds logical to me, but I’ve lived through seeing Michael Jordan in a Wizards jersey and Aaron Rodgers in a Jets uniform or that POS Brett Farve in Minnesota.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
LynchMob50. You can also remind us that 4 short months ago Purdy was beaten 41-6 by the Seahawks. He threw for 140 yards. An interception and a fumble for 2 turnovers. 54 passer rating. I highly doubt he makes it through the season. I mean, seems like he spends most of his time in the whirlpool. His team won 6 games the year before last. 2024. “Purdy has done things Mayfield will never accomplish”. LM50. You’ve lost it. It may be nap time for you.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
Top 15 seems about right after last year and if he’s healthy I think somewhere in that 8-12 is legit.
As for Mike, the difference in odds that Kyle’s team is playing in the divisional round vs Todd’s is the reason rather anything related to Brock IMO. Kyle’s shown he can manage different QBs and difficult circumstances and still get deep into the playoffs.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
Mike wants to win. Not just talk about winning and fail miserably.
Tom Brady taught him what it takes to get over the top of the mountain.
Once Mike came back last year and experienced 3rd and 28, that’s all it took.
He then knew that Todd Bowles was not a capable HC\DC.
I wish him the best. He earned the right to go after another ring.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
Mike Evans left because he was no longer the top wide receiver on the roster. He wanted to go somewhere where he could still be WR 1 on the team. He did not leave because of Baker. He left because Ebuka is younger and better. Let him go put up numbers on the 49ers he earned it but stop for the love of God saying he left for a better situation. How did 49ers work out for Debo Samuel? How about Aiyuck? I hear he is pretty happy right? LOL Evans did was best for him he went to a weaker WR room period.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
Kenton Smith Says:
“LynchMob50. You can also remind us that 4 short months ago Purdy was beaten 41-6 by the Seahawks.”
Yes, that was in the second round of the playoffs. And they were riddled with injuries. You know, the excuses Todd makes for failure!
Who did Mayfield play in the second round of 2025?? How about round 1???
That’s right, never mind. Missing the playoffs is better than getting to the second round if you beat the team that got to the second round, but in the regular season. Got it. Totally logical.
In the insane world of Todd Bowles, it is totally sane.
May 27th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
The Bucs have a better shot at making the playoffs in the first place. Read between the lines there and all I see is Mike thinking he can prove himself with more targets. We just beat the Niners not all that long ago. And Bowles won us a Super Bowl with brilliant suffocating defense that only let Mahomes score 9 in 60 minutes just a few years back…
May 27th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
“I did my research on a lot of teams that I was looking at. I was looking at contenders, guys with good quarterbacks obviously,”
thats why Mike left
GO BUCS!!!!
May 27th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
“How did 49ers work out for Debo Samuel? How about Aiyuck? I hear he is pretty happy right? LOL Evans did was best for him he went to a weaker WR room period”
LMAO, yes, while he’s sharing the field with Christian McCaffery, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, Christian Kirk & rookie De’Zhaun Stribling.
Ya’ll keep talking about the WR room when 2 of our top 5 most productive players catching passes last year were an RBs and a TE.
May 27th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
Any qb that can play even when hurt and your teammates come out and say “we couldn’t believe he was suiting up to play due to all his injuries” is one you want to hold onto because that guy will do anything to win. And to top it off, before “all his injuries” he was the leading guy for MVP, yeah keep that guy, build your team around him and keep him healthy and it is inevitable to be in a superbowl. With our new OC this just might be our year!!!
May 27th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
Matt is correct –
Mike even said it himself without meaning to….
“So I was looking at here, Buffalo Bills, teams that needed a number one wide receiver….”
May 27th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
Hopefully BM6 is here to stay. Pay the man!!!
May 27th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Thanks Dan I agree with you 100%. Yes, the 9ers have great receivers at RB and TE, but I’m sure they desperately wanted one at WR, too. Straight up I think the Bucs have a significantly higher chance of making the playoffs too. And I am not being biased there at all. The 9ers will have a much harder time winning their division than we will…it all comes down to WR targets, and Mike wants to see many more of them.
Way too much challenge here.
May 27th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
THANK YOU PICKGRIN!!! There’s the proof I was right. I wish I would have caught that. It really is the only thing that makes sense. And I cannot exactly blame him for it but it’s wholly unnecessary if he’s worried about HOF induction. He should be a shoo-in on his current stats alone.
May 27th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
Purdy also had /has a top ranked defense and an all world RB
May 27th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
I don’t care where Baker and the Bucs land in rankings as long as it’s ahead of those fraud Packers and Jordan Love.
Someone asked about Jacobs week 4. I assume he’s playing and NFL punishment comes later but who knows.
Packers lost multiple players along both lines, Doubs is gone, Jacobs has legal trouble. DC left and Parsons coming off major injury. Love remains overrated.
May 27th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
“Mike even said it himself without meaning to….”
That doesn’t mean he wasn’t the #1 WR here and it 100% doesn’t prove this
“Also Mike left because he didn’t like that we drafted Egbuka.”
Some of you guys man lol. Mike was cool with Chris(and DJax), cool wit sharing the field with Chris-AB-Gronk, but Emeka Egbuka was the last straw?
LOL c’mon now.
May 27th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Ok this is where Bucboi, LynchMob, Baking with Robinson and WBL come back and say, “looks like you were right after all, Matt. Bravo!” Or some such…