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The Cleveland Browns are rebuilding the offense from scratch this offseason and two "external" options, one in free agency and the other via the NFL draft, are potential replacements for Shedeur Sanders who finished last season as the team's starting quarterback.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported on Monday, February 23 that Green Bay Packers backup Malik Willis and draft prospect Ty Simpson of the Alabama Crimson Tide are both on the Browns' "radar" as the new league year approaches in mid-March.
"Willis is arguably the top quarterback on the market, and the Browns will do their diligence and inquire about him," Cabot wrote.
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"As for Simpson, the Browns will consider him at No. 6, or even at No. 24 or No. 39 if he lasts that long," Cabot continued. "Widely regarded as the second-best quarterback in the 2026 class behind Fernando Mendoza, who will go No. 1 to the [Las Vegas] Raiders, Simpson has plenty of upside potential, but has started only 15 games at Alabama and will turn 24 in December."
Willis could run between $20 and $30 million annually after two strong campaigns as Jordan Love's backup in Green Bay in 2024 and 2025. Spotrac currently projects his market value at north of $35 million annually over a new two-year deal.
That price tag would be something of a tall order for Cleveland, with Deshaun Watson still under contract through 2026 and carrying a salary cap hit of $80.7 million this season if the Browns don't restructure his deal yet again in the coming weeks/months.
Simpson is a lesser-known commodity and wouldn't be cheap in the late first or early second round given asset and salary considerations combined. However, he would cost considerably less than Willis on the cap sheet and could prove a high-value selection if Cleveland is able to hold off through Round 1 and still acquire Simpson with the 39th overall pick.
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