Bad news for Shedeur Sanders following Browns GM’s message to Ty Simpson amid interest

Shedeur Sanders will be biting his nails over his future.

The Cleveland Browns have been toying with the idea of potentially drafting a quarterback in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

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What this could mean for Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel, who are all under contract with the team next season, remains to be seen.

The Browns endured yet another losing season, in which they won just five games and used three quarterbacks under center during the campaign.

They began with fan-favorite and veteran returnee Joe Flacco, who started the first four games before being benched – and subsequently traded – for Dillon Gabriel.

The former Oregon standout assumed starting responsibilities until he sustained a concussion against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11, which saw Sanders finally enter the fray, answering the wishes of Browns fans.

Despite a nervy debut, Sanders came into his own the following week in his first start, winning his first game and making Browns history by doing so.

He became now-fired head coach Kevin Stefanski’s choice for the remainder of the season, in which he threw for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns to be named a Pro Bowl replacement.

With $230 million Watson now healthy again after recovering from a torn Achilles sustained in the 2024 season, some have given the veteran signal caller a slight edge to start over Sanders in 2026.

Drafting Ty Simpson could throw a spanner in the works

But the Browns brass could be looking to pivot entirely.

In possession of both the No. 6 and No. 24 overall picks in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft, there is some indication that the team could yet use one of those two picks to draft Ty Simpson.

The Alabama quarterback has previously revealed that it would be a “dream come true” to play under new head coach Todd Monken, who has long been a family friend of the Simpson clan.

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Browns general manager Andrew Berry has also recently gushed over the time spent with the 23-year-old, who has been touted by some to make a better transition to the pro level than that of virtually-guaranteed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.

“Son of a coach, really smart, very driven, he’s physically talented,” Berry said, via Pro Football Talk.

“He has a very unique college journey, in terms of coming in as a five star and then really having to wait his turn behind two pretty talented quarterbacks [in] Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe before getting his chance under center.

“And he did a great job maximizing it. So, we’ve really enjoyed our time with Ty.”

In 2025, Simpson threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns to five interceptions in 15 outings, averaging a pass completion rate of 64.5 percent and earning him second-team All-SEC recognition.

However, his small sample size of just 31 games played in his four years spent with the Crimson Tide has some teams around the league wary of using a top draft pick to select him – which could work out in the Browns’ favor.

“I’d say I don’t love dealing in hypotheticals,” Berry said when asked what it would mean for the QBs already on the roster if they were to select another young signal caller in the draft.

“So, I guess I’d say this, if we add a quarterback, we have a lot of love for the quarterbacks that are in the room, that’s probably the first thing.

“So that decision would be made independently of anything that we add to the room.”

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