Could the Cleveland Browns trade Dillon Gabriel?
The Cleveland Browns have been predicted to trade QB Dillon Gabriel this offseason.
NFL analyst Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report thinks the Browns will trade Gabriel after taking Taylen Green in the 2026 NFL Draft.
"A year after drafting both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, the Cleveland Browns drafted another quarterback in Arkansas' Taylen Green," Knox wrote. "The raw but talented dual-threat quarterback is an intriguing backup option for Todd Monken's offense. With Deshaun Watson also in Cleveland's quarterback room—and set to cost $45 million whether he's on the roster or not—one of the Browns' second-year signal-callers will likely be out. Our money is on Gabriel, a 5'11" pocket passer who was a better fit for former head coach Kevin Stefanski than for the current offense.
"While teams won't be clamoring to add Gabriel as a potential starter, the 25-year-old should draw interest as a backup. While his athletic limitations were on display last season, he looked like a capable spot starter, posting an 80.8 passer rating in six starts. The Browns will probably take what they can get for Gabriel, who should interest teams that lack a young developmental backup. Potential Suitors: Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers."
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.
"What I have liked with Dillon is the way he goes about his business," new Browns head coach Todd Monken said about Gabriel. "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."
If Gabriel isn't traded, he will compete with Sanders and Watson for the Browns' starting QB spot.
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 while rehabbing an Achilles tear sustained in the 2024 season, was set to have an $80.7 million cap hit in 2026, the largest in the NFL.
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