The Cleveland Browns are currently in a unique position as they prepare for the upcoming season, with three viable starting quarterback options on their roster. These include Shedeur Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round pick, Deshaun Watson, who has signed a $230 million contract, and Dillon Gabriel, a 2025 third-round pick. If the team chooses not to draft another quarterback, it is expected that Sanders and Watson will compete for the starting role, with Gabriel serving as the third-string quarterback.
However, some insiders suggest that the Browns might consider adding another quarterback to the mix through the 2026 NFL Draft. While the top overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, is out of the picture, several other quarterbacks from the draft class could still be available. Among them is Ty Simpson, a highly regarded player from Alabama who is considered the second-best quarterback in the draft after Mendoza.
Simpson has been linked to multiple teams, including the New York Jets and the Arizona Cardinals. However, the Browns could potentially make a move to secure his services, especially given the personal connection between Simpson and the team’s head coach, Todd Monken.
Simpson’s father, Jason, who is the head coach at UT Martin, has a close friendship with Monken. This relationship could provide Monken with unique insights into Simpson as a professional prospect, something that other NFL coaches may not have.
“I like Ty,” Monken said at the combine. “I liked Ty when he was coming out. When I first got to Georgia, they hadn’t offered him and I went up there and talked to his dad. … So we got to know them really well. Really fond of Ty, obviously really good football player. Fired up for him because in today’s day and age, for him to stay as long as he did at Alabama and then get a chance to be the starting quarterback’s pretty cool.”
Simpson himself has expressed his admiration for the Browns, stating that playing for the team would be a dream come true.
“My dad and coach Monken go way back,” Simpson told reporters at the NFL combine. “They talk often. He texted him when he got the job, and they’ve texted a little bit (since), so if I had the opportunity to play for the Browns, it would be a dream come true.”
If the Browns decide they need another quarterback to challenge Sanders and Watson, Simpson is definitely a name to watch. His potential to slide into the second round makes him an attractive option, especially since the Browns hold the seventh pick in Round 2. A trade-up for Simpson is not out of the question, and it could significantly impact the team’s quarterback situation.
Key Points to Consider
- The Cleveland Browns currently have three viable quarterback options: Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel.
- There is speculation that the team might add another quarterback via the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Ty Simpson, a highly touted quarterback from Alabama, is among the prospects being considered.
- Simpson has a personal connection with Browns head coach Todd Monken, which could influence the team’s decision.
- Monken has expressed his admiration for Simpson and has a history of trying to recruit him.
- If the Browns decide to take Simpson, it could create a competitive battle for the starting quarterback position.
- The team’s position in the draft and the possibility of trading up could affect their decision to select Simpson.
