The 2026 NFL Draft arrives in a few weeks, and once again, the Cleveland Browns find themselves in need of a quarterback.
That is a tricky spot for the Browns this year as there is a presumed drop off from Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, expected to be the No. 1 overall selection, and the rest of the quarterback class.
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General manager Andrew Berry and head coach Todd Monken may decide to roll another year with the league’s worst quarterback room and push the decision off until 2027. There is some merit in building up other parts of the offense this year to have it well-stocked for the new guy next season.
But that could be a risky bet, especially for Berry, so if the Browns decide to select a quarterback this year, one name to keep an eye on is Ty Simpson of Alabama.
Name: Ty Simpson
Position: Quarterback
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 211 pounds
College: Alabama Crimson Tide
2025 Stats: 15 games, 64.5 completion percentage, 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 145.2 quarterback rating
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Career Stats: 31 games, 63.9 completion percentage, 3,948 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 143.0 quarterback rating
Average “Big Board” Position as of Publishing Date from Mock Draft Database: 33rd overall, projected second round
The Draft Network’s Grade/Round Value: Round 2 – Winning Starter
What an Expert is Saying
Lance Zierlein at NFL.com:
Former five-star prospect who waited his turn at Alabama and raised his profile in a single season as the Tide’s starter. Simpson is mechanically sound from a footwork and release perspective, providing a favorable foundation to work from. He’s above average as a processor and decision-maker, but timing and anticipation remain works in progress. Arm talent and velocity are average, which limits his success. His repeatable process should help iron out ball placement inconsistencies the more he plays. Simpson is unfazed by shell coverages and is decisive when attacking intermediate zone pockets for chunk gains. He can break contain and move the sticks with his legs, too. Learning to cut bait and avoid sacks needs to be prioritized. One-year starters rarely “boom,” so he’ll need a patient staff and a clear developmental roadmap to fill in the missing pieces.
What an Expert is Saying (Bonus Round):
Dave Richard at CBS Sports:
Despite being a little undersized, Simpson is a wiz at processing defenses pre- and post-snap and can act on it appropriately. He’s got a pro-style arm capable of making any throw on the field with the legs to get him out of trouble and a gunslinger mentality that may need to be tamed, not exploited. He should adapt to any offense.
Simpson has a number of crucial traits — primarily football intelligence, footwork, and processing — that most inexperienced quarterbacks don’t have. Those are traits NFL coaches will love because they put Simpson on an accelerated track to the starting lineup compared to passers who relied heavily on athleticism in college.
Teams will have to decide if that’s enough to overlook his lack of experience and pass-rush management. They will also need to map out a plan to develop Simpson comfortably without rushing him into action, where he could get overwhelmed.
Fit with the Browns
Can Simpson throw a football? Does he have a pulse? He checks off both of those boxes, so he would be a fit for any team that currently does not have a starting quarterback on its roster.
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All kidding aside, there are several things to like about Simpson. He played against top competition in college and spent four years at Alabama. He is also the son of a head coach, so he has grown up around the game.
But the biggest question is his lack of playing time, as there is more than enough recent evidence against drafting a quarterback who made such a limited number of starts in college. Still, it could work out if the Browns did not rush Simpson onto the field, and if head coach Todd Monken is everything he is supposed to be as an offensive game planner.
Browns Player Drafting Could Impact
If the Browns draft a quarterback, then Dillon Gabriel is likely the odd man out. (He may be anyway.) If the Browns draft a good quarterback, then Shedeur Sanders could be taking his social media following somewhere else this fall.
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Priority: As high as it has ever been.
What are your thoughts on Ty Simpson? Should the Browns take a gamble on him? Let us know in the comments!
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