Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns
Getty
Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are potential players for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in next month’s NFL draft, but longtime ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. sent the franchise a clear message on why that would be an unnecessary use of its assets.
On Thursday, March 26, Kiper and his colleague Field Yates engaged in an on-air back and forth about Simpson and which teams around the league need to “figure him out” ahead of the draft in late April.
Analysts like Kiper and Yates widely consider Simpson as the second-best QB on the board and believe he may end up selected in Round 1, even if his grades slot him in as a more typical Day-2 selection.
“The Jets have to be figuring out Ty Simpson, the Steelers have to figure out Ty Simpson and now, certainly, Arizona does if they want to try to trade back in and get him,” Kiper said.
“The Browns, by the way, need to figure out Ty Simpson as well,” Yates added.
“The Browns don’t need to worry about Ty Simpson,” Kiper responded. “They got a better quarterback than Ty Simpson in Shedeur Sanders. Don’t go there.”
“I believe the Browns need to figure out Ty Simpson,” Yates said back.
Browns May Have Clear Path to Drafting QB Ty Simpson With Pick No. 24 in Round 1
Ty Simpson, Alabama
GettyFormer Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
Cleveland owns two first-round picks, Nos. 6 and 24, as well as the 39th overall selection in Round 2.
Simpson could potentially be in play at all three spots, though No. 6 is almost certainly too high, while it is unlikely he drops all the way to 39 given the widespread QB need that still remains in the league and the minimal options left in this cycle.
Based on Yates’ latest mock draft, the Browns will be in a position to land Simpson in the mid 20s, just two picks before Yates projects the Cardinals to trade back into Round 1 and take a swing on the Crimson Tide QB.
“Through the early part of the 2025 season, Simpson stood out with his ability to navigate the pocket and throw with accuracy and power when he can set his feet,” Yates wrote. “All 15 of his collegiate starts came this past season.”
Deshaun Watson Will Get Same Chance as Shedeur Sanders to Win Browns’ Starting Job
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will compete for the starting job.
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Cleveland is in an interesting spot under center, with some analysts suggesting Sanders deserves a real shot to win the QB1 job longterm after showing flashes of high-level play last year amid some equally ugly rookie struggles.
The Browns have a new head coach in Todd Monken, formerly the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens — a team that was interested in selecting Sanders in Round 5 to serve as the backup QB behind Lamar Jackson. Monken’s arrival, at the very least, offers Sanders a clean slate heading into his second professional season.
But the same is true for veteran and three-time Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson, who has been anything but that caliber of QB since inking a $230 million deal with the Browns four years ago. He is healthy after missing the last season and a half with a twice-torn Achilles tendon and entering the final year of his deal in Cleveland.
Sanders and Watson should make for an interesting QB battle, but whether either is a viable NFL starter in 2026 is a reasonable question. The Browns finished last season with the No. 4 overall defense but face the massive undertaking of rebuilding almost the entire offense this spring.
Presumably the team will do so by drafting a left tackle and a wide receiver in the first round, not necessarily in that order. Another rookie QB could have been in the mix had this class at the position panned out better, but Sanders and Watson both caught breaks in that regard.
Next year’s draft is likely to prove a different story, but sticking with Sanders in the meantime may wind up with the Browns treading water in the shallow end of the pool for yet another campaign.