Dillon Gabriel career dealt huge blow with Shedeur Sanders primed to win Browns QB battle
The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback carousel is expected to keep on turning in 2026.
But Dillon Gabriel’s chances of being in contention for the Browns’ starting job appear to have already been scuppered.
According to long-time Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, Gabriel has fallen down the quarterback pecking order and is even considered as a potential trade candidate.
“I know the Browns still like Gabriel and believe he has good upside potential,” Cabot wrote.
“But he’s started six games for them and he’s not really in the mix to start for them this season.
If they don’t trade him, which they’re open to, they keep him as a developmental QB on a rookie contract who can start games for them if necessary.
“With more experience and better weapons around him, Gabriel might prove to be a serviceable starting or backup QB.”
The former Oregon standout was taken by Cleveland in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 50 picks ahead of that of hyped-prospect Shedeur Sanders.
Gabriel had to wait until Week 5 to get his first start under center, after veteran quarterback Joe Flacco was benched.
The 25-year-old would make six consecutive starts before suffering a concussion in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens which saw Sanders enter the fray and never look back.
In 10 total outings, Gabriel completed 59.5 percent of his 185 pass attempts for 937 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
He also averaged 5.1 yards per attempt, was sacked 19 times and recorded a QBR of 80.8, as he went 1-5 as a starter.
Sanders, on the other hand, completed just 56.6 percent of his 212 passes for 1,400 air yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, though that was still enough to see him named to the Pro Bowl, despite much controversy.
“He may be forgotten externally, but he’s not forgotten to us. … (He’s) gonna handle everything within his control … Dillon’s a guy that has a bright future in this league,” Browns GM Andrew Berry said, via ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi back on February 24.
Should Cleveland ultimately decide to shop Gabriel – with Sanders and the returning Deshaun Watson expected to be battling it out to be the Browns’ Week 1 starter barring bringing in a veteran either in free agency or via trade – they are projected to command a Day 3 draft pick in return in the form of a fifth or sixth-rounder.
“If they do add a veteran, I think it would be a younger guy that would have some upside potential and could do something for them down the road,” Cabot said on 92.3 The Fan.
“If they bring in another guy, then I think they would be open to trading Dillon Gabriel. I think that’s something to watch for over the next week. If they can get something for Dillon, maybe they’ve seen enough of him.”
Browns miss out on re-signing star linebacker
Ahead of Monday’s legal negotiating period, the Browns – as expected – restructured Watson’s hefty $230 million deal to create cap space.
The expectation was that they would be able to use some of their newly-created cap space to re-sign linebacker Devin Bush who was a pending free agent.
However, on Monday it was announced by ESPN’s Adam Schefter – who complained about the strength of the WiFi connection during The Pat McAfee Show when trying to break news – that the veteran defender was signing a three-year $30 million deal with the Chicago Bears, which included $21 million in guaranteed money.
Bush, who was a the 10th overall pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2019 NFL Draft, enjoyed a breakout season in Cleveland in which he recorded 124 tackles and three interceptions.
Two of those were returned for touchdowns, making him the only player in the NFL in the 2025 campaign to return two picks for scores.
However, all was not lost as the Browns were able to sign All-Pro linebacker Quincy Williams to a two-year deal worth up to $17 million to somewhat mitigate the loss of Bush.
The 29-year-old spent the previous five seasons with the New York Jets, and was listed as the 10th-best off-ball linebacker in the 2025 season, three spots below that of Bush by ESPN analyst Matt Bowen.
“Williams can make splash plays with his perimeter range as a tackler and ability to add pressure from second-level or mugged alignments,” Bowen wrote on Monday.
“He averaged 6.3 tackles per game last season, while adding 3.5 sacks and five pass breakups.”
Having seen virtually their entire starting offensive line from 2025 enter free agency, the Browns splashed on former Los Angeles Chargers guard Zion Johnson on a three-year, $49.5 million deal which includes $32.4 million in guarantees.
This acquisition follows that of Tytus Howard, who the Browns traded for from the Houston Texans last week.
Whether he will be protecting Sanders, Watson or another quarterback next season, though, remains to be seen.
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