“Don’t Let Anybody Talk You out of It,” Mel Kiper Backs Dan Orlovsky’s Ty Simpson Take With Shedeur Sanders Comparison

Mel Kiper Jr. doubles down on his take about Shedeur Sanders being the future franchise quarterback of the Cleveland Browns by urging the team to avoid drafting a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 draft.

“Don’t Let Anybody Talk You out of It,” Mel Kiper Backs Dan Orlovsky’s Ty Simpson Take With Shedeur Sanders Comparison

Shedeur Sanders, Ty Simpson and Mel Kiper Jr. inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/X)

Shedeur Sanders returned to the Cleveland Browns for a second year, not knowing whether he would be the starting quarterback in week one. He is facing tough competition from Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel, and the list may not end there.

Ty Simpson is another name that has been linked with the Browns in recent weeks. The 23-year-old won 11 games and led the Alabama Crimson Tide to a Rose Bowl appearance. Simpson impressed the NFL scouts at the Combine and increased his draft stock.

Dan Orlovsky of ESPN claimed that Simpson is the best quarterback in the draft over Heisman Trophy winner and reigning CFP champion Fernando Mendoza. Orlovsky pushed the narrative that Simpson is a top 10 draft pick, and it will not surprise him if a team like the Browns selects him a year after adding a couple of rookie signal callers.

One of them was Shedeur Sanders. The University of Colorado alum fell to the Browns in the fifth round and played sparingly toward the end of the season. He finished with a 3-4 record, 1400 passing yards, 56.6% pass completion, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

Despite Shedeur’s uninspiring numbers, Orlovsky’s colleague at ESPN and senior draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. remains confident that Sanders is the right man to start for the Browns, and there’s no need for them to draft Simpson or any other quarterback. Kiper said on First Take:

I had the same feeling about Shedeur Sanders last year. I still believe strongly in Shedeur and what he can do in Cleveland. So hold to it. Don’t let anybody talk you out of it.

Kiper’s confidence stems from the fact that Sanders will get more opportunities under Todd Monken. According to league sources, Sanders did not practice with the first team until after his official NFL debut. He was restricted to practicing with the reserves.

Monken, on the other hand, is a big admirer of Sanders. He tried to draft Sanders when he was the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. However, Monken also acknowledged that Deshaun Watson, who missed the entire 2025 campaign due to an ACL tear, has an equal chance of being the starter.

Former Browns quarterback makes a big claim about Shedeur Sanders

The result of having limited experience with the first team was reflected in Sanders’ game from day one. That said, Sanders demonstrated class in patches, leaving players like Myles Garrett in awe by his potential.

"Don't Let Anybody Talk You out of It" - Mel Kiper Backs Dan Orlovsky’s Ty Simpson Take With Shedeur Sanders Comparison
Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

Sanders’ best game in a Browns shirt came against the Tennessee Titans. He threw for 364 yards, 3 touchdowns, and one interception in a 31-29 defeat.

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III backed Sanders to succeed for the Browns during a recent appearance on the “Yahoo Sports Daily” program. RG3 argued that his former team does not have faith in Watson and Gabriel, making Sanders the prime candidate to start in week one. He said:

When you step into the huddle, when you step onto the field, do you believe that you have a chance to win with the guy who is in the huddle with you at quarterback? The Cleveland Browns’ locker room believes they can win with Shedeur Sanders.

RG3 thinks that if he were in charge of the Browns locker room, he would give Sanders the job at the OTA (organized team activities) so that he could see how much he has grown or has the potential to grow.

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