The Cleveland Browns could once again be after a quarterback early in the 2026 NFL Draft — and this time that could put them in competition with the Pittsburgh Steelers .
The Browns are hosting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson for a pre-draft visit on Thursday, according to a report by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Simpson was one of the four quarterbacks the Steelers had a formal interview with at the 2026 NFL Combine , and he could be a fit for the team in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Simpson is the clear-cut No. 2 quarterback in the draft class, behind expected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza and ahead of Penn State quarterback Drew Allar.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 2, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Browns are apparently back in the market for a quarterback in this draft, after surprisingly taking two in the 2025 NFL Draft. Last year, Cleveland selected Oregon's Dillon Gabriel in the third round and then doubled back to take Colorado's Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round after his draft stock plummeted.
Joe Flacco ended up winning the starting quarterback job coming out of training camp, but he gave way to Gabriel early in the 2025 season. Gabriel made six starts, completing 110 of 185 attempts (59.5%) for 937 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
As Cleveland fell out of contention in the AFC North, the Browns turned to Sanders, who started seven games, completing 120 of 212 attempts (56.6%) for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Gabriel had an 80.8 passer rating and a 31.4 QBR, while Sanders had a 68.1 rating and an 18.9 QBR.
The Browns also could get Deshaun Watson back from injury this season, though it has been a very long time since he has been an effective NFL quarterback. Watson made seven starts in 2024 before his Achilles injury, completing 137 of 216 for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions, a 79 passer rating and a 21 QBR.
Simpson is coming off a solid performance at the 2026 NFL Combine. He dealt with multiple injuries over the course of the 2025 season, suffering a cracked rib in Alabama's College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Indiana on Jan. 1, and also dealing with a lower back injury, a case of gastritis, and elbow bursitis.
The Steelers repeatedly scouted Simpson and the Crimson Tide over the course of the season, and do not have an obvious successor to Aaron Rodgers on their roster, with general manager Omar Khan saying at the combine that the team continues to search for its next franchise quarterback.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Browns Host Steelers QB Target for Pre-Draft Visit
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