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Dillon Gabriel #8 of the Cleveland Browns
It was not a surprise a year ago that the Cleveland Browns chose to pick a quarterback as part of their well-stocked draft class. But what was a surprise is that the quarterback they chose was Dillon Gabriel, a 5-foot-11 lefty who had been in college for six years. The Athletic tabbed Gabriel a, “point guard-style quarterback … often too willing to bypass tight windows and settle for the checkdown.” The site also pointed out his difficulty with deep passes.
Of course, all that was borne out once Gabriel earned a spot with the Browns and got six starts for the team. His decision-making was not as sharp as it had been in college, and his size, propensity for checkdowns and inability to throw downfield were all glaring weaknesses. Gabriel was 1-5 as a starter, and threw for just 170.0 yards per game in his first five starts (he did not finish his sixth).
The good news for Gabriel this offseason has been that the Browns have not added a veteran quarterback to the room, and as things stand, it is still a three-man competition–Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Gabriel. The bad news is that Gabriel is firmly No. 3 in that mix, and it’s not likely to change.
Browns Quarterback: Dillon Gabriel ‘Not in the Team’s Plans’
Sizing up what the Browns have done thus far in free agency, Zac Jackson of The Athletic notes that the unchanged quarterback room is something of a surprise, though that could change either by a trade or a draft pick. Either way, it does not appear that Gabriel will be long for this roster.
Writes Jackson: “The quarterback situation appears to be Shedeur Sanders in the lead for now, Deshaun Watson next and then Dillon Gabriel. There was no immediate addition to the group, and it seems headed toward what new coach Todd Monken intimated would be an open competition once the team begins its offseason program. …
“Taking Gabriel in the third round last year remains an unjustifiable decision, as he doesn’t seem to be in the team’s plans.”
Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken
GettyCleveland Browns coach Todd Monken
‘Start With Personality Traits’
Monken has, indeed, said that the Browns will have an open competition at quarterback, but that competition still requires competitors who can potentially elevate what was one of the worst offenses in modern history in 2025. Sanders was under center for nearly half that season, and Watson has not played since October 2024. You can’t bring a Ford Escort to a Grand Prix race.
Monken has claimed, though, that he is “excited” about the Browns QB room.
“I’m just going to start with personality traits. I mean, when you talk about who’s going to lead this team, who has the ‘it’ factor?” Monken said. “Who has those characteristics that the team wants to follow and believes in them because the ball’s in their hand every down?
“This game is going to come down to two-minute situations, four-minute situations where you’ve got to be able to execute the high level. And we’re just talking about some of the characteristics that you’re looking for, let alone some of the physical traits that we’ll get a chance to talk about later.”