Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel might have support from the front office.
Getty
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel might have support from the front office.
Dillon Gabriel’s NFL career hasn’t gone according to plan so far. But the Cleveland Browns quarterback may not be out of chances just yet.
Cleveland raised eyebrows when it selected Gabriel in the third round of last year’s draft, and the decision only became more puzzling when the team doubled back to take Shedeur Sanders at No. 144 a few rounds later.
Gabriel eventually got his opportunity after the Browns stumbled to a 1-3 start under veteran Joe Flacco. The rookie made six starts, going 1-5 while throwing for 937 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
Gabriel struggled to push the ball downfield, often settling for short throws and playing conservatively. Pre-draft concerns about his size and ability to create outside of structure began to surface on the field.
Any momentum he had came to a halt in Week 11, when he suffered a concussion during a loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Sanders stepped in and never relinquished the job, leaving Gabriel on the outside of the quarterback picture entering the offseason.
Dillon Gabriel May Have Backing in Browns’ Building
The Browns selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round last season.
GettyThe Browns selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round last season.
Much of the quarterback conversation this offseason has been focused on Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. Cleveland has also been rumored to be searching for an external candidate, whether through free agency, a trade, or the draft.
While Gabriel may feel like an afterthought just one year removed from being a third-round pick, general manager Andrew Berry is still firmly in his corner, per Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland. Grossi was asked in a recent Q&A if Gabriel could be put on the practice squad. His answer was telling.
“Gabriel is eligible for the practice squad. But I don’t see Andrew Berry risking losing him via waivers. Berry has said he believes Gabriel has a bright future in the NFL,” Grossi said. “The perception that Gabriel’s only advocate in the building was Kevin Stefanski is off base. I believe all along that Berry was Gabriel’s biggest advocate.”
Berry: Dillon Gabriel Not Browns’ Forgotten QB
Berry showed support for Gabriel while speaking at the NFL Combine in February.
“He may be forgotten externally, but he’s not forgotten to us,” Berry said. “(He’s) gonna handle everything within his control … Dillon’s a guy that has a bright future in this league.”
The Browns have yet to add a quarterback to the depth chart. But if the current trio is what the Browns roll into training camp with, it’s expected to be an open competition.
“Sure, I think it’s an open competition,” new head coach Todd Monken 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.”
It remains to be seen if Gabriel will be a significant factor in that “open competition.” There is also chatter that the Browns could target another developmental quarterback in the later rounds, such as Drew Allar or Carson Beck. That could lead to Gabriel being on the move.