Andrew Buller-Russ
The Cleveland Browns have four quarterbacks on the roster. Three of them were drafted in the past two draft classes, but only one of them, sixth-round rookie Taylen Green, has been brought in since first-year head coach Todd Monken was hired. However, all four QBs were added by current Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are the ones expected to compete for the Browns’ starting quarterback job when the 2026 season kicks off. Whoever wins the job doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll still be Cleveland’s QB1 by the time the season ends.
Whoever doesn’t win the job is expected to back up the other and be a snap away from seeing the field at some point throughout the season. Meanwhile, the other backups, 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, and the rookie Green, are expected to fight for what could be the final QB spot on the roster.
The practice squad is always another possibility, but that risks the chance of another team swooping in and signing the QB away from Cleveland instead.
Yet, Alex Kay of Bleacher Report doesn’t think the Browns should give all four quarterbacks a fair shot. Kay believes the Browns should act quickly to trade Gabriel for whatever they can retrieve.
“Gabriel’s best chance of sticking around will be as a third-stringer, but Cleveland added a promising sixth-round rookie in Taylen Green who makes more sense to develop in that role. Cleveland should instead look to recoup some capital and ship Gabriel off to a less crowded quarterbacks room.”
BR’s Alex Kay on Dillon Gabriel
Gabriel is still just 25 years old. While there’s always a chance that Gabriel emerges as the eventual starting QB for the Browns, he’s in third place to receive starting reps right now. With the team newly infatuated with the uber-athletic Green (4.36-second 40-yard dash, 9.99 RAS), Gabriel’s future in Cleveland could be very short-lived.
Thus, it does make sense to consider trading Gabriel, even though they wouldn’t get anything close to the same value in return after spending a third-round pick on him in 2025. At this point, even a Day 3 draft pick is better than cutting him and watching Gabriel sign elsewhere later this fall.
Related: Cleveland Browns Coach Admits QB Threw ‘Embarrassing Interceptions’ at OTAs
