NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms seems convinced that the San Francisco 49ers traded up to the No. 3 spot to select quarterback Mac Jones. Of course, as is the case with many analysts, that is just an educated guess. However, it held more weight and created some chatter because of Simms' relationship with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. The two are close friends.
Simms has admitted that he doesn't have any real insight into Shanahan's thinking regarding this year's draft. He knows how the coach has looked at the quarterback position in the past, which led Simms to his conclusion about Jones.
"I think it's Mac Jones. I do," Simms said on PFT Live today. "I don't know that, but just knowing my friend, knowing his history, knowing his school of thought to make that type of move, that's the one that makes sense to me. ... I think he makes sense to him, one, because, I think, after Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson ... he's the most NFL ready right now."
Today, Shanahan sat down with general manager John Lynch and discussed his friend, Simms. He explained why analysts might not want to put as much stock into what Simms says.
"Trust me, Chris talks about everything," Shanahan said. "Therefore, I haven't been able to talk to him in a couple of years. Anyone who you're friends with who speaks in the media, and people think you're friends with them, that means you're not allowed to tell them anything. That's why he doesn't even ask me stuff. Because if he does ask me something, and I tell him, then he can't say it.
"But Chris does a good job with that stuff, and I respect listening to him. That's why I always do listen to his opinions, because he's not a guy that just calls people to get his opinions. Chris works at it. That's why he wanted to be a coach for a little bit, spending a year in New England and stuff. He didn't like the hours. I understand.
"But he loves watching quarterbacks and doing that stuff, so I always love to hear his evaluations."
It is worth noting that Simms claimed to know about Shanahan's love of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk leading to last year's draft but did his best not to tip his friend's hand.
