New NFL Draft Rumors on Ty Simpson, Browns Amid Buzz on Shedeur Sanders' Future as QB1

With Shedeur Sanders' position atop the Cleveland Browns' quarterback depth chart very much up in the air, the AFC North team is reportedly doing its due diligence on one of the top signal-callers in the upcoming draft.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Thursday the Browns, which have the Nos. 6 and 24 picks in the draft, will host Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson on a visit.

This comes after Zac Jackson of The Athletic told James Palmer on the latest edition of the Scoop City podcast, "I think Shedeur is No. 1 but the least safe a No. 1 could ever be," (Browns discussion begins at 39-minute mark).

It is notable Cleveland is looking at one of the top draft prospects because Jackson suggested Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson, who are both on the roster, are not realistic candidates to take over as starter. He even called Watson a "last resort" and said he is "only on the team because the Browns cannot afford to cut him."

He also listed free agent Malik Willis as a possibility, but the draft is another avenue.

Simpson led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff last season by completing 64.5 percent of his passes for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions. While Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick, the Alabama product is in line to be the second quarterback selected.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department had him going No. 29 overall to the Los Angeles Rams near the end of the first round in its most recent mock draft as someone who could be a long-term solution after Matthew Stafford retires. 

However, that pick has since been traded to the Kansas City Chiefs as part of the package for cornerback Trent McDuffie.

Ty Simpson Best Plays

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It projected the Browns to go with offensive tackle Spencer Fano at No. 6 and wide receiver KC Concepcion at No. 24. Such an approach would give Sanders multiple offensive positions next season and beyond, although targeting a new quarterback would also make sense.

After all, Sanders completed 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His QBR of 18.9 was 40th in the league and behind the likes of Gabriel, J.J. McCarthy and Davis Mills, per Pro Football Reference.

While he was just a rookie, he struggled to adapt to the NFL level and was among the worst quarterbacks in the league.

Cleveland's front office will have to decide whether it wants to give him a chance to put those first-year struggles in the rearview mirror or move on at quarterback, and Simpson would give the team another option.