Analyst Is Fascinated By Browns Recent Roster Move
(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
The Cleveland Browns delayed the decision as long as they could, but they now have four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. It is a move rarely seen in the NFL, but the Browns obviously felt this was the best thing for the organization.
Cleveland was able to buy itself some time when Dillon Gabriel was placed on injured reserve in late August. But the Browns opened his 21-day practice window as soon as his minimum four-week IR requirement was up, and time was about to run out on that.
So on Monday, Gabriel was put back on the active roster rather than reverting to IR, which would have sidelined him for the entire season. With Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and rookie Taylen Green also at quarterback, Cleveland waived rookie tight end Carsen Ryan to make room.
Interestingly, these machinations have everything to do with Green, who has yet to play an NFL snap, and analyst Nick Pedone said he is fascinated by the Browns’ recent roster move.
“I do think it’s telling of all of this, they didn’t want to put Taylen Green on waivers. They didn’t want to expose him to getting claimed. That’s fascinating to me. I know he’s just been an emergency QB3, but long floated was the idea of him doing the gadget package, and him maybe being QB2 at some point. If we’re not gonna see it this year, we’ve only got 10 games left. You’re 5-2 with an active AFC playoff picture, and you’re gonna carry four quarterbacks?” Pedone said.
“They didn't want to put Taylen Green on waivers. They didn't want to expose him to getting claimed. That's fascinating to me.”
➡️ @NickPedone12 w/ @SportsBoyTony on the #Browns carrying four quarterbacks and whether Green could still have a role as Cleveland pushes for the… pic.twitter.com/ac44QtGq41
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) October 27, 2026
Green has been an intriguing, mysterious figure ever since Cleveland took him with the No. 182 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. An incredible athlete who lacks the finer points of quarterback play, he was seen as a worthwhile developmental project with tremendous upside.
Considering that potential, the Browns did not want to waive him on cutdown day and get him onto the practice squad for fear he would be claimed by another team, even though he was passed over multiple times by everyone in the draft. Then, despite not putting him to use, even with a gadget play or two, in seven games this season, Cleveland still does not want to risk losing him to accommodate Gabriel, who has recovered from a back injury suffered in the final preseason game.
With the Browns legitimate playoff contenders and in first place in the AFC North, it can reasonably be argued that the roster spot could be better used on a contributing player. But Cleveland sees more value in Green, and Gabriel, for that matter, than an end-of-the-bench special teamer.
“I think that Taylen Green thing sounded fun and creative at the start of the year when we thought we’d go 3-14. But now you’re 5-2. You do score touchdowns once you get down there (into the red zone),” co-host Anthony Lima said.
Maybe someday, when Green is wowing Cleveland with his powerful arm and great speed, all of this will make sense, but for now, it is a curious set of circumstances.