After being drafted 39th overall last year, former quarterback Phil Simms says Geno Smith would have been the first quarterback drafted this year (Credit: Newsday)

Last year, West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, fell to the 39th overall pick and was drafted by the New York Jets. According to former quarterback Phil Simms, if Geno Smith was in this year’s draft, he would be the first quarterback drafted.

“I think if Geno Smith was in this draft class he would be the number one guy, without question.” Simms told Adam Schein of SirusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio on Wednesday.

Smith finished the 2013 season with 12 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and 3,046 yards as the Jets went 8-8.

Simms also shared his thoughts about this year’s top three quarterbacks, Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles.

On Manziel, Simms does not believe that the comparisons to Russell Wilson are accurate.

“The Russell Wilson comparison. … Russell Wilson is more explosive. He’s naturally bigger and stronger than Johnny Manziel. They’re not even close in arm strength.”

On Bortles, Simms added that he just does not see him as being a top three or four pick in this May’s draft.

“He’s probably the one I want to watch more than anybody. I saw Blake Bortles play, maybe, I’m going to say five games this year on TV. … I just didn’t think I was looking at potentially a top three or four pick in the draft. I just didn’t see that.”

Finally, Simms was asked to characterize Teddy Bridgewater’s arm strength.

“I’ll characterize it, NFL, middle of the pack. … Solid arm. When I say middle of it, I’m taking about all the quarterbacks in the NFL. It’s just an average power arm or whatever.”

Simms went on to say that he does not think there is a true franchise quarterback in this year’s draft.

While Simms thinks Geno Smith would have been this year’s top quarterback, I think he would have been the third quarterback drafted after Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel. Furthermore, I don’t think Geno Smith is a franchise quarterback and can see the potential for Bridgewater, Bortles and McCarron to be franchise guys.

Until May, we will just have to wait and see which guys fall and which guys rise. In the end, I think Bridgewater will be the first quarterback off of the board.