Conflicting reports emerged throughout March about whether or not the Cleveland Browns could spend a high-value draft pick on Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson.
The Browns already have a crowded quarterback room, and it sounds like general manager Andrew Berry won’t be in any rush to acquire Simpson on April 23.
When Browns reportedly won’t draft Ty Simpson
Browns reporter Zac Jackson of The Athletic shared that he has “gathered” that the club won’t target Simpson in the draft’s first round.
“Even if the Browns aren’t fully focusing on next year’s draft when it comes to quarterbacks,” Jackson wrote, “the team probably feels it can better address its offensive line and wide receiver issues in this year’s first round.”
The 2027 quarterback class is expected to feature multiple top-tier talents. Meanwhile, Jackson thinks that veteran Deshaun Watson, 2025 fifth-round draft pick Shedeur Sanders or 2025 third-round choice Dillon Gabriel “is set to have the most realistic shot at winning” the Cleveland starting job this summer.
When could Browns possibly draft Ty Simpson?
“If Simpson is still on the board headed to the second day,” Jackson continued, “I think Cleveland will more seriously discuss potentially taking him at No. 39. If there’s a trade-down involving No. 6 that nets the Browns an extra Day 2 pick, I’ll go from being fairly confident they’ll draft a developmental quarterback to nearly certain they’re in the quarterback business in this draft — whatever that business ends up being. But for now, I think the Browns are fine giving Sanders a fuller evaluation, with the 2027 quarterback draft class and the possibility of a mid-round (or even post-draft) addition in the background.”
For what it is worth, ESPN’s Ben Solak is among those who think a team could make a trade to grab Simpson late in the first round.
While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, new Browns head coach Todd Monken expressed excitement over what he had seen from Watson, Sanders and Gabriel during the early portions of the offseason program. Regarding the Browns possibly spending a mid-round draft choice on a quarterback this year, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Miami’s Carson Beck and Penn State’s Drew Allar are among Cleveland’s potential options.
Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and others have hinted that Gabriel is probably the odd man out as it pertains to quarterbacks currently with the Browns.