Cleveland Browns QB Dillon Gabriel spoke about getting benched for Shedeur Sanders last season.
Dillon Gabriel started six games as a rookie for the Cleveland Browns last season before getting benched for Shedeur Sanders.
While speaking to reporters on Tuesday at voluntary minicamp, Gabriel opened up about getting benched for Sanders in 2025.
Gabriel finished his rookie season with 937 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns and two interceptions. The lefty completed only 59.5% of his passes and went 1-5 as a starter.
Most people who cover the NFL believe Sanders or Deshaun Watson will be the Browns' starting QB next season. However, since it's an open competition, Gabriel could win the job if he plays well in training camp and in the preseason.
"What I have liked with Dillon is the way he goes about his business," new Browns head coach Todd Monken said. "Very professional, highly intelligent, understands football, has a certain charisma about him and a confidence that’s hard to create. You saw it throughout his career. You don’t go to three different programs and have the success he had if he doesn’t have a belief in himself."
Sanders finished his rookie season with 1,400 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 169 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He went 3-4 as a starter.
Sanders was named to the Pro Bowl as a replacement selection. He's one of the most popular players in the NFL because of who his dad is: Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
Suspension and injuries have limited Watson to 19 games since he arrived in Cleveland. Since making his Browns debut, Watson has posted a 33.1 Total QBR, which would be the lowest among qualified passers.
A Clemson product, Watson has 3,365 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns with Cleveland. He's thrown 12 interceptions.
Watson has 17,904 passing yards and 123 passing touchdowns in the NFL with the Houston Texans and Browns. He was the 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft.
It's worth mentioning that the Browns did restructure Watson's contract at the start of this month. Cleveland freed up close to $36 million in cap space and made the team cap compliant.
Watson, who did not play in 2025 as he rehabbed an Achilles tear from the 2024 season, was set to have an $80.7 million cap hit in 2026, the largest in the NFL.
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