NFL Draft Buzz: Ty Simpson to Browns at No. 6, plus the March NFL Draft Big Board

With the first wave of free agency slowing down, attention across the league is quickly shifting toward the upcoming NFL Draft. Front offices now have a clearer picture of their roster needs, and the draft is where many teams will look to fill the remaining holes.

This week’s NFL Draft Buzz examines several situations taking shape around the league. The Cleveland Browns could address quarterback early by targeting Ty Simpson with the sixth overall pick. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers may look to add a developmental quarterback to push Bryce Young. We also break down the Minnesota Vikings search for a third wide receiver, highlight an offensive tackle rising up draft boards, and unveil the latest March Big Board.

Why Ty Simpson could be a natural fit with the Browns

It is starting to look like the Cleveland Browns will be bringing Ty Simpson into the fold with their first-round pick, which is the sixth overall selection. Part of the clue here is how much research they are doing on Simpson, including meeting with him at the NFL Combine and bringing him in for a Top 30 visit.

This move makes sense as it is pretty clear Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel are not the answer at quarterback. The team’s new head coach, Todd Monken, also excelled at the college level when he was the offensive coordinator at Georgia with smart pocket passers like Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck, which Ty Simpson is.

However, the biggest reason this makes sense is that Ty Simpson is a high-quality passer who can thrive in the NFL. He is one of the most polished and fundamentally sound quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and this results in him throwing an easily catchable ball with good accuracy. He also has the mobility to buy extra time in the pocket or even take off and pick up yards on the ground when needed.

While some people may mention that he struggled down the stretch for the Tide, not many quarterbacks would be successful in that situation. To start with, Alabama had one of the worst rushing games in college football, ranking 123rd and averaging just 104.1 yards per game and 3.35 yards per rush. He also battled receivers who consistently dropped his passes, making his job even tougher.

For these reasons, Simpson would be a great fit with the Browns.

Inside the Vikings’ battle for the No. 3 wide receiver role

The Minnesota Vikings added a new likely starting quarterback this week when they signed Kyler Murray to a one-year deal. While Murray should benefit from a stronger supporting cast in Minnesota than he had with the Arizona Cardinals, one area the Vikings still need to address is the third wide receiver spot.

That need became clear when Jalen Nailor, who filled the role last season, left in free agency to join the Las Vegas Raiders. His departure leaves the Vikings thin behind their elite receiving duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Minnesota could address the position in the draft to pair with 2025 third-round pick Tai Felton, who caught just three passes as a rookie. One prospect already on the team’s radar is Antonio Williams from Clemson. Vikings wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell attended Williams’ pro day to personally scout the slot receiver.

Williams is coming off back-to-back All-ACC seasons. While his production dipped slightly this year, he remains a quick and reliable target who excels from the slot. His ability to separate and catch the ball in traffic would make him a natural fit in Minnesota’s offense, and he is also dangerous after the catch, averaging 5.8 yards after reception this season.

Durability is the biggest concern. Williams missed two games this year with a hamstring injury and was limited to just four games in 2023.

If the Vikings want to add him, they would likely need to use their second-round pick, No. 49 overall.

The growing pressure on Bryce Young in Carolina

While the Minnesota Vikings have already added competition for former first-round pick J. J. McCarthy, the Carolina Panthers could also be exploring the idea of adding a rookie quarterback. The goal would be simple: create competition for Bryce Young if he does not show the potential to become a high-level NFL starter.

One quarterback Carolina is considering is Sawyer Robertson from Baylor. The Panthers met with Robertson at the NFL Combine, and he is a prospect with intriguing upside. He is coming off back-to-back 3,000-yard seasons despite not taking over Baylor’s starting job until the third game of the 2024 season. This past year he threw for 3,681 yards and 31 touchdowns, including three games where he topped 400 passing yards.

Physically, Robertson offers traits Young simply does not have. He has prototypical size for the position at 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, and he also possesses a stronger arm. In 2024 he completed 25 passes of at least 20 yards, showing the ability to stretch defenses vertically. Another positive is his football IQ. Baylor gave him significant freedom at the line of scrimmage, trusting him to adjust protections and make checks based on what he saw from the defense.

"If you want a dude that's going to come out of nowhere, it's Sawyer Robertson. He's what everyone wants Drew Allar to be. Big, big arm, and he can move."

AFC South scout to ESPN

There are concerns that will likely keep Robertson available until Day Three of the draft. The biggest issue is decision-making, as he has forced throws at times and recorded 20 interceptions over the past two seasons, including 12 this year. His footwork can also become inconsistent, which hurts his accuracy. That was a factor in him completing just 60 percent of his passes this season and finishing three games below the 50 percent mark.

However, working with quarterback coach Will Harriger could help clean up those issues. Harriger has previously helped develop quarterbacks like Caleb Williams and Dak Prescott. With Robertson’s natural arm talent and physical traits, taking a late-round chance on him would be a smart move for Carolina if they want to push Young and strengthen the quarterback room.

Athletic tackle moving up the draft board

An offensive tackle moving up draft boards is Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor. One of the reasons for this is his impressive showing at the NFL Combine. In Indianapolis, he measured in at 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds with 33 7/8-inch arms. This is the type of size NFL scouts crave. However, his most impressive number in Indy was his 4.91-second 40-yard dash, which tied for the fastest time among offensive tackles.

In addition to his strong workout, Iheanachor showed high-end traits on the field this season while being named a second-team All-Big 12 pick. One of these traits was his quick feet, which made it very hard for defensive ends to get pressure on the quarterback, as he did not allow a single sack all season. He also showed impressive balance, which is one of the more underrated traits in an offensive tackle.

As far as where he will likely go in the 2026 NFL Draft, look for teams to strongly consider him late in the first round or early in the second round. A couple of teams he has already met with that would make logical landing spots are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

March Big Board

1. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
2. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
3. Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami
4. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
5. Sonny Styles, OLB, Ohio State
6. Arvell Reese, MLB, Ohio State
7. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
8. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
9. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
10. David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech 
11. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
12. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
13. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State 
14. Makai Lemon, WR, USC 
15. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
16. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
17. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
18. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
19. T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson
20. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
21. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
22. Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
23. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
24. Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
25. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
26. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
27. Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
28. Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
29. Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia 
30. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
31. R Mason Thomas, DE, Oklahoma
32. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon