Deshaun Watson beat Shedeur Sanders in the race to be named the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, but fans called for Dillon Gabriel to be considered after his heroics
Dillon Gabriel starred with three first-half touchdowns in Thursday's NFL preseason game
Dillon Gabriel starred with three first-half touchdowns in Thursday's NFL preseason game(Image: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Dillon Gabriel put in a stellar performance for the Cleveland Browns during Thursday's preseason game against the New England Patriots, prompting fans to campaign for him to be named the starter for the 2026 season.
Browns head coach Todd Monken named Deshaun Watson as the starting quarterback for the new season, with the veteran owed $46 million for the upcoming campaign. Watson is in the final year of his $230 million contract, during which he has played in just 19 games over four seasons.
Watson was booed by his own fans earlier this preseason, and Shedeur Sanders ended last season as the starter following a rollercoaster rookie year. However, Thursday's performance has seen Gabriel's stock rise, after Sanders' speechless reaction during the last campaign.
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During the first half of Thursday's game against the Patriots, Gabriel completed 12-of-15 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. His dominant performance instantly led to a reaction on social media, with Browns fans making their feelings clear.
"Give Dillon Gabriel the QB1 spot," one fan wrote on X. "Can anyone provide a definitive reason why Dillon Gabriel isn't the QB1 Starter for the Cleveland Browns...Dude is smooth with it and has been since Oregon," another added.
"Dillon Gabriel is playing so much better than Watson and Sanders. He might be QB1," a third claimed. "Call me crazy but Dillon Gabriel should be Browns QB1," another fan agreed.
Gabriel was 12-for-15 with 186 yards and three touchdowns in the first half
Gabriel was 12-for-15 with 186 yards and three touchdowns in the first half(Image: 2026 Lauren Leigh Bacho)
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Last season was another turbulent time for the Browns, with Watson sidelined with an injury for the entire campaign. Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco started the season, with rookies Gabriel and Sanders competing to be his backup.
Gabriel won the battle and was later named as the starter, with Flacco sent to the Cincinnati Bengals. Sanders had a unique reaction to the depth chart alteration, refusing to speak to the media and instead silently mouthing his response in the locker room.
An injury to Gabriel handed Sanders his opportunity, and he ended up starting the final eight games. This season, the battle for the starter role was thought to be between Watson and Sanders, but Thursday's performance led fans to call for a change.
When explaining his decision to start Watson over Sanders, coach Monken said experience was needed because the Browns would be on the road for the first two games. Monken also praised Sanders' maturity upon hearing the decision.
"Took in the full body of work over the course of offseason to training camp to the games to joint practice, and ultimately felt like, to start the season on the road, Deshaun gave us the best chance to move the ball and score points," Monken said.
Monken then said that Sanders understood the long-term plan, with Watson unlikely to be retained by the organization. "You talk about somebody that really understands the long game," Monken added.
"That really I think has come to understand the long game. What are we really in this for? What am I in it for?... Where do we want to be in the long term? He understands that as well as a quarterback."