After moving on from Baker Mayfield at the end of the 2021 season-despite the fact that he had delivered a playoff victory the year before-the Browns entered a period of instability at the quarterback position. Over time, that instability led to major consequences, including the dismissal of Kevin Stefanski, who was a two-time Coach of the Year.
At the time, the franchise believed it had made the right decision by making Deshaun Watson the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history, signing him to a five-year, $230 million contract. However, the move turned into a complete failure. The former Clemson standout has played in only 19 games since then and still remains on the roster.
Watson suffered an injury in Week 7 of the 2024 season and has not returned to the field since. However, he is now ready after recovering from a double Achilles tendon injury. Looking ahead to next season, the Browns have three quarterbacks: Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders.
Drafting Ty Simpson would be a mistake
What’s curious about the Browns is that last season, before free agency began, they did not have a single quarterback, and now they have three. Even so, the reality is that none of them appear to be a clear solution: Deshaun Watson has been a disappointment, Dillon Gabriel struggled badly, and Shedeur Sanders showed flashes but still raises many questions.
With Dante Moore deciding to return to Oregon for another year, the draft stock of Ty Simpson, Alabama’s quarterback, has risen. However, analyst Ken Carman believes the Browns should not select him: “I think Shedeur fans should be pretty excited… I don’t like Ty Simpson enough to just take him in the back end of the first round. I don’t want to make the wrong investment in the first round,” he said on 92.3 The Fan.
Last season at Alabama, Ty Simpson finished with 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdown passes, and 5 interceptions. The biggest concern is his poor performance in the Rose Bowl against the Indiana Hoosiers, led by Fernando Mendoza, which raised serious doubts about his game. Even so, this likely won’t prevent an NFL team from taking a chance on him in the Draft.
For all these reasons, it seems unlikely that the Cleveland Browns will select him, given that they already have three quarterbacks on the roster. Ultimately, the final decision will belong to the franchise’s next head coach, a position that has yet to be filled. One of the top candidates, John Harbaugh, will not be the choice, as everything points to him signing with the New York Giants.
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