Browns insider addresses Ty Simpson rumors after Todd Monken comments about Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson

A recent report shared that the Cleveland Browns have Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson on their "radar" as they look to add to a quarterback room currently occupied by 2025 rookie Shedeur Sanders and veteran Deshaun Watson.

While speaking with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, recently hired Browns head coach Todd Monken suggested he was ready to give Sanders and Watson opportunities to compete for the starting job. Later in the day, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand addressed whether or not general manager Andrew Berry could draft Simpson with overall selection No. 6 or No. 24 this spring.

Browns "aren't inclined" to make this Ty Simpson decision

"Should we now pencil in Simpson as a potential pick for the Browns at No. 6 or No. 24? The answer is no," Grossi wrote. "For two reasons. Simpson doesn’t fit the profile of a player GM Andrew Berry would take high in the draft. He started only 15 games – all in 2025 – in four seasons at Alabama. No way would Berry devote a first-round pick to a quarterback with that few career starts. Further, drafting Simpson in the first round would result in an all-in commitment to Simpson as 'the guy.' You don’t devote that high of a resource to a quarterback and not commit to him. The Browns aren't inclined to do that."

A 2025 fifth-round draft pick, Sanders went 3-4 across seven starts this past season but produced unimpressive stats under former head coach Kevin Stefanski. As for Watson, he hasn't played in a regular-season game since he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in October 2024. He later needed a second surgery after he reinjured the Achilles.

Todd Monken ready to give Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson a chance?

During his media availability on Wednesday, Monken was asked if he believed Sanders could enter the 2026 season atop Cleveland's depth chart. 

"Sure he can," Monken responded, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "I think what you see is elite playmaking ability — that’s in him. You’ve seen it, we’ve seen it. You saw it in college. You saw it on tape last year. Sure, there’s a ways to go, but what rookie isn’t? I mean, what first-year player doesn’t have a long way to go? So, I’m excited to get started with him and all of our quarterbacks and all of our players." 

In a different piece, Simmons mentioned how Monken said that the Browns "might be able to" rediscover the form that made Watson a three-time Pro Bowl selection when he was with the Houston Texans. 

"I think it’d be completely unfair, just like it would be in any classroom setting — be it a history exam — and all the students walk in, and before they’re actually given the exam, you give them a grade. Well, how would you give them a grade? Based on male, female, race, how they look, how they’re dressed? I think that’s unfair," Monken added during his comments about Watson.

It certainly sounds like Monken would like to see more of Sanders and Watson later this spring. That said, some have linked the Browns with current Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis, who is expected to become the top signal-caller available in free agency when the new league year opens on March 11. 

Willis almost certainly will only sign with a team willing to hand him a starting job for the 2026 campaign.