Kyle McCord Emerges as the Second-Best Quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft

After spending three seasons at Ohio State, two as a backup and one as a solid enough option, McCord transferred to Syracuse in 2024

Ben Simmons' tenure with the Brooklyn Nets has come to an end, with the team agreeing to a buy-out with the three-time All-Star on Thursday.

Simmons' time in Brooklyn was marked by struggles on and off the court, and ultimately led to him being sidelined for the majority of the 2023-24 campaign.

Despite flashes of brilliance, Simmons never truly found his rhythm with the Nets, and the constant chatter surrounding his role and performance ultimately took its toll.

Now, as Simmons prepares to embark on a new chapter in his basketball journey, let's take a look at the key takeaways from his time with the Nets.

Ben Simmons' stats with the Brooklyn Nets

Over the course of his three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, Ben Simmons averaged 9.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the free-throw line.

Simmons' best season came in 2021-22, when he averaged 12.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game in 42 games before being sidelined with a back injury.

Ben Simmons' contract with the Brooklyn Nets

Ben Simmons was originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the no. 1 overall pick in 2016. After five seasons with the 76ers, Simmons was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2021 as part of a blockbuster deal that also involved James Harden heading to Philadelphia.

The three-time All-Star signed a five-year, $190 million maximum contract extension with the Nets in 2022.

After averaging 7.2 points, 6.0 total rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 24 games during the 2023-24 season, Simmons was ultimately released by the Nets via a buyout agreement.

What happened with Ben Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets?

Ben Simmons' time with the Brooklyn Nets was filled with both promise and disappointment. After being acquired in a massive trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2021, Simmons was expected to be a key part of the Nets' championship hopes.

However, Simmons struggled to adjust to his new role and the heightened expectations. He also battled a series of injuries, further limiting his impact on the court.

Despite showing flashes of his brilliance, Simmons never quite reached the levels of stardom that were anticipated. As the season progressed, Simmons' performance came under increasing scrutiny from fans and analysts alike.

After missing the playoffs in 2024, the Nets reportedly agreed to buy out the final year of Simmons' contract.

Where will Ben Simmons play next?

With his time at the Brooklyn Nets now over, Ben Simmons is set to become a highly sought-after free agent.

Having played out his eligibility in 2024, McCord is set to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, and on his The Herd show on FS1, Cowherd made the argument that he is on par with Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft class and a much better prospect than Dart as well.

“I think Jaxson Dart and Shedeur Sanders, it's a coin flip. I think it's a coin flip,” Cowherd declared. “What I don't get is the people who are taking Jaxson Dart over Kyle McCord. That I don't get. Cam Ward over him, I get. But I think this kid has a chance to be the second-best quarterback in the draft.”

After spending three seasons at Ohio State, two as a backup and one as a solid enough option, McCord transferred to Syracuse in 2024 as OSU courted Will Howard, and promptly went off to an incredible degree, setting career highs across the board. While he did lead the FBS in completions, attempts, yards, and yards per game at 391, 592, 4,779, and 367.6, respectively, he also led the conference in interceptions at 12, with his game against Pitt featuring five picks on the way to a 13-41 loss.

Is McCord a future NFL star? Did his incredible season, which, admittedly, didn't feature an interception over the final five games of the year, show what he can do at the NFL level? Or will talent evaluators see how he played at Ohio State, how much of a gunslinger he was at Syracuse, and have questions about his ceiling in a post-Jameis Winston world? Fans will soon find out.