Dillon Gabriel will be QB 3 or 4 for the Cleveland Browns.
While speaking to reporters after practice on Wednesday (8/5), Dillon Gabriel opened up about not being considered for the Cleveland Browns' starting QB spot.
The Browns will start Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders this season. Gabriel will be QB 3 or 4.
“Never disrespected,” Gabriel told reporters on Wednesday. “I don’t take things personally, it’s a business. I’m focused on what I need to do to get better, and that’s all I’m focused on. I’m present with that.”
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 before getting benched for Sanders.
Cleveland has four QBs: Gabriel, Watson, Sanders and Taylen Green. Some people who cover the NFL believe the Browns should trade Gabriel for a future draft pick.
Gabriel is focused on getting better every day. That's all he can do at this point.
“I’m really just focused on mastering my reps,” Gabriel said. “I really appreciate [pass game coordinator] Danny Bryer and [senior director of player development] James Cook. James Cook and [offensive skill development specialist] Demetric Felton are big on walkthroughs in the morning, which helps set me up for a good day. And afterwards with Danny Bryer, a guy I’ve really leaned on, getting coached up — three or five reps, talking through it as best I can and improving. And same with [assistant quarterbacks] coach [Matt] Baker, he’s been really good for me.”
It will be fascinating to see what the Browns do with Gabriel. Cleveland opens the 2026 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Gabriel is still on the Browns, it would be poor asset management by Andrew Berry.
Watson or Sanders will be the Browns' starting QB next season. The Browns will use training camp and the preseason to determine who will start Week 1.
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.
Meanwhile, since making his Browns debut, Watson has posted a 33.1 Total QBR, the lowest among qualified passers. The odds of the former Houston Texans star turning back the clock after an Achilles tear are pretty low, which is why many NFL pundits believe Cleveland should start Sanders so the team can fully evaluate him for an entire season.
