Mike Rodak: I don’t know if I would spend a first-round pick on Ty Simpson; it’s hard to say if he could be the Browns answer

Mike Rodak, covering Alabama for 24-7 Sports, joins The Fan's Afternoon Drive to discuss the 2026 NFL Draft, focusing on quarterback Ty Simpson and his potential fit with the Cleveland Browns. Rodak expresses skepticism about drafting Simpson in the first round, citing his limited college starts, inconsistent performance across games, and lack of prototypical physical traits for a top-tier quarterback. While acknowledging Simpson's high football IQ and coach's son pedigree as strengths, Rodak argues that his athleticism is not elite enough to sustain success at the NFL level, and that the pressure of a first-round pick could hinder his development. He suggests the second round—particularly early second—as a more realistic and sustainable landing spot. Rodak also evaluates Caden Proctor, noting his massive physical profile but inconsistency and maturity concerns, making him less of a 'slam dunk' than his size suggests. He praises Jeremy Bernard as a reliable, consistent receiver with strong blocking ability, projecting him as a solid day-two pick. Finally, Rodak weighs in on the future of college football conference championships, predicting they may be eliminated with playoff expansion to 16 or 24 teams by 2027.