Ty Simpson, the former Alabama quarterback, is already generating significant buzz ahead of his throwing session at the NFL Combine on Saturday. The Cleveland Browns are reportedly eyeing Simpson, along with free agent Malik Willis, as potential options for their quarterback lineup.
During a Wednesday press conference at the Combine, Browns' new head coach Todd Monken shared his thoughts on Simpson. Monken has a history with Simpson, dating back to his days as the offensive coordinator at Georgia.
“I like Ty. I liked Ty when he was coming out [of high school],” Monken reflected.
“When I first got to Georgia, they hadn’t offered him. But I went up there and talked to his dad - in fact, his dad, Jason, is a Southern Miss alum and I was head coach at Southern Miss.
I 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 and then get a chance to be the starting quarterback at Alabama is pretty cool, that is really cool for him to live out his dream at the school he chose, three or four years ago.”
While Monken's connection with Simpson is notable, it might not be the deciding factor for the Browns, who hold the No. 6 and No. 24 picks in the first round. Monken emphasized the importance of familiarity when evaluating draft prospects.
“First off, anybody that’s coming out in the draft, quarterback or any position, you’ve got to do a great job of vetting people that have been around them for an extended period of time,” Monken explained. “Because 20 minutes or an interview doesn’t do it justice.
I mean, you’ve got to make sure that the people that they’ve been around are able to say the words that you’re looking for in terms of how they carry themselves, how they are on a day-to-day basis, how they are around their teammates, how are they third downs, two-minute, critical situations. All of that comes into play.”
The Browns' quarterback room is currently packed with second-year players Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, alongside seasoned veteran Deshaun Watson. Monken plans to evaluate his roster in the coming weeks and anticipates a competitive environment at the quarterback position as they head into training camp. He also hinted at potential new additions.
“I’m excited about Shedeur, excited about Deshaun and Dillon,” Monken said. “I’m excited about the prospects, not only in free agency but also in the draft and we’ll see where it all falls. Ultimately you’ve got to do whatever you need to do, especially at that position, to put yourself in position to score points.”
In addition to their first-round picks, Cleveland also holds the No. 39 pick early in the second round. The upcoming NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh from April 23-25, and it promises to be a pivotal moment for the Browns as they look to shape their future under Monken's leadership.