The Cleveland Browns hold the No. 6 and No. 24 overall picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft in April.
The Browns took both quarterback Dillion Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in last year’s draft, but neither guy played well enough to secure a definite starting role heading into next season.
Does One Browns Insider Think Ty Simpson Lands In Cleveland?
So, will the Browns use a high draft pick to bring in another quarterback, like Alabama’s Ty Simpson, or will they rely on the two guys they already have on the roster?
The Browns had both of their rookie quarterbacks start games last year, and when Gabriel didn’t look very good, Cleveland gave Sanders a chance.
The former Colorado Buffalo looked a little better, but still not great.
Sanders was named as a Pro Bowl replacement last season, but went 3-4 in the games he started and threw for 1,400 yards. He had 7 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions and a quarterback rating of 18.9.
Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot joined 92.3 The Fan on Thursday to discuss how seriously the Browns are looking at Simpson ahead of this year’s draft.
“They’re doing a lot of diligence on Ty Simpson, and depending on where he goes in the draft, they will be interested in him,” Cabot said. “They like him. Todd Monken likes him. It doesn’t mean that they think he’s ready to overtake Shedeur Sanders right now, but he is somebody they have their eye on.”
In Simpson’s first year as Alabama’s starter all season in 2025, he had a really solid year. The junior quarterback threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns compared to 5 interceptions.
“They’re doing their diligence on Ty Simpson… Depending where he goes in the draft they will be interested. It doesn’t mean they think he’s ready to overtake Shedeur Sanders right now.”
📞@MaryKayCabot on Browns interest level in QB Ty Simpson pic.twitter.com/4SioWCZqWO
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) February 26, 2026
However, the Crimson Tide were smothered in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoffs by the eventual national champions, Indiana.
There were doubts throughout the season about Simpson’s first-round draft ability, and if this year’s quarterback class was stronger, he may not be a first-round pick.
But that’s all the stuff NFL teams have to take into consideration as they prepare for the big late April event.
As for what you hear out of the NFL Combine this week, Cabot said to “take it with a grain of salt.”
“(The Browns are) doing their diligence on Ty Simpson. It’s hard to say if they are really that interested in him because at this time of year, you have to remember that teams have to lie about things,” Cabot said. “Not necessarily ball-fake lie about things, but every single team and everything that you hear coming out of this combine, you have to take with a grain of salt.
“Teams have to pump up picks. Teams have to pump up players. If you want a team to come up and grab your draft pick and make a nice trade for you, then you will hear certain things about players. So you just have to be really, really careful at this time of year.”
The Browns are interested in Simpson, but so should any quarterback-needy team that has a first or second-round pick. So it may not mean much.
