Are Browns More Likely to Trade Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel?

The dog days of the NFL offseason tend to produce some wild storylines. Recently, that included conversations over whether or not the Cleveland Browns would consider trading Shedeur Sanders by the end of training camp, particularly if he loses out on the starting QB job to veteran Deshaun Watson. 

To be clear, the Browns are not actively shopping Sanders at this moment. However, the Myles Garrett trade earlier this summer proves that anyone can be moved for the right price. 

So while conversations around Sanders being traded are generally unnecessary right now, there is a world where Sanders could get dealt if he impresses during training camp and some QB needy team comes calling with the right offer. 

Not only that, but Browns GM Andrew Berry has developed quite the habit of dealing quarterbacks by the time roster cut-down day rolls around on August 30. 

In 2024, Berry sent veteran QB Josh Dobbs and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick. Last year, after Cleveland underwent a four-way competition at QB, he sent former Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a fifth-round pick as well. 

With four QBs on the roster right now, Berry could look to do something similar later this summer too, with Sanders and his fellow 2025 draft classmate Dillon Gabriel as arguably the two most likely candidates to be traded. 

Which of the two is more likely to moved, though? 

The obvious answer here is Gabriel, and any conversations about it being Sanders are patently silly. Throughout the spring, Gabriel was regularly third in the team's QB rotation. He is clearly lagging behind both Sanders and veteran Deshaun Watson, who are set to battle it out for the team's starting job when training camp commences later this month. 

Gabriel is on the outside looking in of that competition, especially after new head coach Todd Monken asserted that he believes he has two starting-caliber QBs, a shortlist that clearly excludes the Oregon product. 

There's also the added context of Gabriel clearly being a Kevin Stefanski pick last year. He's a perfect fit for the ex-Browns head man's more structured offensive approach, but doesn't fit Monken's style quite as well.

It's no surprise Atlanta is the most talked-about landing spot in a potential Gabriel trade, where he could reunite with Stefanski. Whether or not that specific destination will become a reality for Gabriel by the end of training camp remains to be seen, but it's Atlanta or somewhere else, it's more likely Gabriel is suiting up for a new team by Week 1 than any of the other QBs he shares a room with. 

Keep in mind, Sanders has a legitimate chance of winning the starting job, and if he does, he's obviously not going anywhere. Even if he loses to Watson, though, it's highly likely Sanders will play at some point this season, either because of another Watson injury or just poor play from the embattled QB. 

The Browns owe it to themselves to find out what they have in Sanders, who possesses at least a small amount of potential to become the franchise QB Cleveland has longed for. He offers actual hope to the fan base, something that doesn't exist otherwise in what's a strangely assembled QB room. 

That group also includes Taylen Green, who is the one signal-caller Monken had some say in adding. It seems highly likely that he'll carve out a spot on the 53-man roster in favor of one of the three QBs who were forced upon a new head coach. 

Someone has to be the odd man out, and Gabriel is the clear answer, not Sanders, even if he loses the QB competition. 

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