When the Cleveland Browns selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round of last year’s NFL Draft, the move signaled a developmental investment at the most important position in football. Less than a year later, that investment appears tenuous. Gabriel made multiple starts for the Cleveland Browns during the 2025 season, but by year’s end he had slid down the depth chart behind Shedeur Sanders.
With Deshaun Watson also in the quarterback room, Cleveland‘s front office has made it clear that competition is not only welcome, it’s imminent as they look at other quarterback targets.
According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, the organization does not view Gabriel as a long-term starter, nor does head coach Todd Monken consider Sanders their QB1.
“It’s fair to assume the Browns don’t view Gabriel as more than a long-term backup, so he could be moved if any team is interested,” Zac Jackson wrote.
“It’s also fair to assume Monken’s belief that neither Sanders nor Watson should be declared the starter now means Cleveland will add at least one quarterback to whatever competition lies directly ahead.”
That assessment aligns with the direction of the franchise. The Browns have been actively surveying the quarterback market – through the draft, free agency, and potential trades – in search of stability at a position that has defined their struggles for decades.
Statistically, Gabriel‘s rookie campaign did little to solidify his standing. He finished the season with 937 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions.
While the touchdown-to-interception ratio was respectable, the overall production failed to separate him in a crowded and uncertain depth chart.
Cleveland’s aggressive posture at quarterback
At the NFL Draft Combine, Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry acknowledged the team’s intent to be proactive.
“I would anticipate that there’s at least the chance that we would be a little bit more aggressive relative. I’ll say this, more aggressive than last year. But it’ll be targeted and opportunistic,” Berry said.
“I think realistically we may be one more offseason away from being hyper-aggressive in that window. But if there’s something that fits us, fits our roster, fits our timeline, then it’s certainly a swing we’ll take.”
Monken has publicly expressed enthusiasm for the current quarterback room, including Sanders, Watson, and Gabriel.
“I’m excited about Shedeur, excited about Deshaun and Dillon,” Monken said.
“I’m excited about the prospects, not only in free agency. But also in the draft and we’ll see where it all falls. Ultimately, you’ve got to do whatever you need to do. Especially at that position, to put yourself in position to score points.”
Monken also emphasized competitive meritocracy. “Sure, I think it’s an open competition,” he said. “I mean, I don’t why it wouldn’t be an open competition.
“I don’t mean that saying it harshly, but I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple years one way or the other to say, boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet. Whether internally or externally.”
Gabriel facing bleak reality
Monken and Berry‘s comments suggest some flexibility. If the right opportunity emerges, the Browns are prepared to act, even if that means moving on from Gabriel after just one season.
The franchise’s hope would be to recoup at least a late-round draft pick in return. He has been linked with a reunion with ex-head coach Kevin Stefanski with the Atlanta Falcons.
Still, the situation changes if Cleveland acquires a marquee quarterback. In that scenario, the competition would likely become procedural rather than genuine.
For Gabriel, the trajectory is clear. Once viewed as a developmental prospect with upside, he is now regarded, at best, as a reserve option.
In a league defined by urgency and production, patience is limited. And in Cleveland, the search for a franchise quarterback continues, with little guarantee that Gabriel remains part of the equation.
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