Browns fans aren't sold on Ty Simpson and Kalen DeBoer didn't help matters

Investing in a quarterback can feel a lot like buying a car off the lot at an auction. On the surface, everything shines — fresh polish, clean interior, a smooth test drive around the block. The dealer talks it up, points out the upside, the low mileage, and tries to assure you it just needs the right driver to unlock its full potential. But deep down, there's always that hesitation: what if this thing looks better than it drives? Because nobody wants to be the one who drives off the lot thinking they found a hidden gem... only to realize later they just paid full price for a lemon. 

That's the uneasy space Cleveland sports talk radio host Ken Carman and Anthony Lima of 92.3 The Fan find themselves in when it comes to Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson after talking to Kalen DeBoer on Wednesday morning. DeBoer joined the Browns' local radio affiliate station ahead of Alabama's Pro Day and was asked directly how drafting Simpson in the first round in next month's 2026 NFL Draft would stop Cleveland's continuous QB carousel from spinning once and for all. 

Kalen DeBoer's attempt to sell Ty Simpson to Cleveland Browns fans as a potential first-rounder in 2026 NFL Draft

"Well Ty, even though he hasn't played a lot of starts, I think that's the one thing people look at but he's been around college football at a high level," DeBoer said. "Not just in college, but he's the son of a coach, a college coach. And he's just done a great job, last year he did an excellent job of taking steps forward, big chunks from going from playing a little bit in his previous years to taking it to the football field and starting the season fast. Then making a lot of big plays for us, and he understands the game. He understands not just the X's and O's but what the quarterback's job is. And it's more than just taking care of the football; it's when to make those plays, and we put a lot on his shoulders to check things, so he gets it all. He did a good job of managing the game, but he also did a great job of making big plays in big moments for us."

Instead of giving a clear, confident endorsement about his former signal caller, Carman and Lima feel the Alabama coach's message felt more like a salesman hedging mid-pitch than someone pounding the table. The host made this apparent when laughing while assessing DeBoer's comment immediately after he hung up. 

Browns radio host don't believe DeBoer's pitch on Simpson was convincing to say the least

"Pffff.. admittedly, it was going to be a tough sell, admittedly," Lima said. "I think I speak for everybody when I say that you're gonna have to do a lot of convincing..."

"I think we got close to the truth, I asked him if they'd start him week one and he goes 'we don't make that decision', which means no," Carman said. "You wouldn't start him week one.. He's played 15 games, I wouldn't start him week one, that's half the reason I don't want him here, is because I think we would burry him. And the reasons to take him from listeners is so half hazardous and silly, I don't wanna bring it up but I'll bring it up. When People keep giving me Josh Rosen as a reason, so I'm just gonna just risk. I'm gonna make an investment on a quarterback and I can just throw it aside, when I could've had another first round pick and add to my football team? That doesn't make any sense." 

Unlike Rosen, who was largely viewed as a project based on his traits that never fully translated after coming out of UCLA in 2018, Simpson brings a more modern, adaptable profile backed by tangible growth. In 2025, Simpson completed 64% of his passes for 3,567 yards for 28 touchdowns, and showed wise decision-making with fewer turnover-worthy plays as the season progressed.

While some doubt his longevity and skill set, what makes Simpson so intriguing to NFL talent evaluators and franchises isn't just his start line — it's how he operates. The former Alabama quarterback has experience in a pro-style structure under DeBoer, handles pre-snap responsibilities, and has the mobility to extend plays without relying on it. That combination tends to translate cleaner to the NFL than pure upside. 

No, he may not be a plug-and-play savior on Day 1, but he profiles less like a risky auction gamble and more like a quarterback and leader you can actually develop long term. The question is now, if an organization is patient and confident enough to stick it out with Simpson when picking in the first-round of April's NFL. If so, then that franchise could have a franchise-rising player on their hands.