Chris Simms has found the best quarterback in this NFL Draft class, and during an interview on the Dan Patrick Show, Simms was put in the position as the Carolina Panthers general manager, as that franchise holds the No. 1 overall pick.

Simms, the NBC Sports analyst, said he would take Ohio State QB CJ Stroud.

“I’m a big CJ Stroud fan, I think he’s in a class by himself,” Simms said.

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The size issue, compared to Simms’ No. 2 quarterback in Alabama’s Bryce Young, is a real issue. Stroud at the NFL Combine was measured at 6-foot-3 and 214 pounds, while Young was measured at 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds.

“Size is a strength, it’s a skill,” Simms said. “We talk about this a lot, Dan. The ability for the bigger quarterbacks to throw with people hanging around them. I can step into this throw, but I’m still big enough and strong enough to throw a 20-yard out route.”

Simms added the Stroud’s decision making is “borderline flawless,” and is as good as Simms has seen other than Joe Burrow.

“Throwing the football, mechanics are flawless and it’s not like it’s dink and dunk and screens and all that type of stuff,” Simms said. It’s one 15, and 20 and 25-yard throw after another. And of course, I think the movement is underrated a bit. There’s still some untapped potential in this kid. He’s clearly No. 1 for me, and I would be shocked if more people don’t see it that way as the NFL evaluators continue to go through the process.”