The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition will have its biggest day so far when Deshaun Watson starts the first preseason game against the Chicago Bears. He is going to be followed by Shedeur Sanders, with Dillon Gabriel likely getting some fourth-quarter action.
It is an important event for all three of them, but maybe for Gabriel most of all. With Sanders already slated to start the next preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, the Browns’ other second-year QB may be running out of chances to secure a roster spot.
NFL teams rarely keep four quarterbacks on the final 53-man roster. Sixth-round rookie prospect Taylen Green is likely headed to Cleveland’s practice squad, but it might not want to expose the talented prospect to waivers to get him there.
So, that brings Gabriel’s future into question, and Bleacher Report analyst Moe Moton has named him a prime cut candidate for the Browns in 2026.
“Dillon Gabriel is clearly the No. 3 quarterback. On the depth chart, he has little chance of surpassing Watson with his $41 million cap number, or Sanders, who took over for him in the second half of the previous season. Gabriel threw for 937 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions with a 59.5 percent completion rate last season. Teams may be willing to trade a late-round draft pick for him, but if not, he should be a prime cut candidate,” Moton wrote.
It is interesting to think about where Gabriel might be, and the Browns’ quarterback situation overall, if he were not put into concussion protocol in Week 11 last season. He was named the starting QB over Sanders when Joe Flacco was benched and may have remained in that role if not for the injury.
Now, after making some strides during training camp, with talk of him being the backup ahead of Sanders, Gabriel could be in danger of not making the team. Cleveland likely would want to hold out as long as it can to make a trade, as it did spend a third-round pick on Gabriel in the 2025 NFL Draft.
It should be noted that the Browns have used at least three quarterbacks in each of the past three seasons, and 12 overall in that time. If they were to part with Gabriel, and either Watson or Sanders were to get injured, that could put Green in line to be the backup and just one more unfortunate snap away from taking the field.
That may be a risk Cleveland is unwilling to take.
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