Heading into Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season, Deshaun Watson is the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, and Shedeur Sanders is his backup. By this time next year, neither one of them might still be on the team.
The 2027 outlook is much better for Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green, who are the other two QBs now part of the organization. Both players survived the NFL roster deadline on Sunday, with Gabriel’s placement on injured reserve opening up a spot for Green on the 53-man list.
Those moves suggest that the Browns have plans for them going forward, and insider Tony Grossi expressed a strong belief in their futures in Cleveland, saying they will move up the depth chart as soon as next season.
“Gabriel and Green, I think [have the longest potential future with the Browns], in different roles. Green could eventually be a backup, but I don’t think it’s even next year. I think Gabriel and Green are two and three next year. Or there could be a veteran added,” Grossi said.
.@TonyGrossi believes that Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green have the longest potential futures on the Cleveland Browns.
Do you agree? https://t.co/5NNrCj70YX pic.twitter.com/b0h0HXOtLB
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) August 31, 2026
The scenario put forth by Grossi does not include Cleveland’s current top two QBs. Watson can become a free agent after this season, a decision both sides would likely welcome wholeheartedly.
Then, if Sanders is not given the opportunity to show that he is the potential long-term answer, or fails in trying to prove that, the Browns may want to move on from him to remove any potential distraction for the arrival of a rookie in the 2027 NFL Draft. That would clear the way for Gabriel to become the backup, a role he is seen as ideally suited for, while allowing the Browns even more time to develop Green, either as a potential backup or useful gadget player.
The controversial decision to name Watson as the starter has been widely seen as a strong indicator that the Browns don’t see Sanders as the solution to the decades-long problem. That is counterbalanced with the thought that the organization is just trying to get something out of the $230 million it has invested in Watson, and it will open the door for Sanders if that experiment fails.
The Browns might consider trading Gabriel if they get a deal to their liking, but until then, he looks to have a more secure future with them than Sanders does.
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