Dillon Gabriel’s rookie NFL season has been a roller coaster ride that continues into the offseason. His professional career began with his selection as the 95th pick in the third round of the NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns then raised eyebrows when they picked Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round. Both rookies vied for the #2 spot behind the veteran starter, Joe Flacco, a competition that was won by Gabriel ahead of the start of the regular season.
The 2025 season was Flacco’s second
rodeo for the Browns, and it did not go well. After committing a league-high eight turnovers in the first four games of the season, Flacco was benched and traded to Cincinnati. (It should be noted that Flacco became a Pro Bowl selection in 2025 with the Bengals. Maybe the problem says less about Flacco and more about the Bengals as a team? Perhaps, but that’s a separate discussion).
Gabriel became the starter on week 5, and then suffered a concussion a month and a half later. Sanders started the rest of the year, ending with the worst passer rating in the NFL (minimum 200 attempts). Cleveland finished the year with a 5-12 record, and head coach Kevin Stefanski was sacked after going 8-26 in two seasons.
The arrival of Todd Monken as head coach has caused uncertainty with Gabriel’s placement in the quarterback room, or even if he is still with the team come the start of this coming season. Having Monken running the show appears to have resurrected the career of Deshaun Watson, who – coming off an Achilles injury that kept him out of the ‘25 season – is now looking like the presumed starter in ‘26. Sanders has been looking like he’s positioning at the #2 spot.
The Browns selected 6-foot-6 rookie Taylen Green in the sixth round. Green is a raw but athletically gifted quarterback. Cleveland has some difficult choices to make where Green and Gabriel are concerned. The team wants to develop Green, but they risk losing him if he’s placed on the practice squad, as other teams could sign him. The choice is simple, but difficult; does Cleveland tilt toward Green’s potential or Gabriel’s readiness?
That decision is probably going to be put off until the August 30th roster cutdown date. Another factor in this is Watson’s injury history. He has ruptured his right Achilles tendon twice and has undergone surgeries for other injuries. No matter the upside, can he even stay healthy?
Gabriel may not be out of the picture yet. He has been said to have impressed Browns observers with his sharp play in OTAs and minicamp. Observer Mary Kay Cabot described him as an “excellent processor and game manager” capable of starting if needed, noting that he’d benefit from an upgraded offensive line and supporting cast.
There are too many factors involved to predict at this point whether Dillon Gabriel will still be with Cleveland this fall. If he stays, then good for him and I hope it works out for him and that he can stay healthy. If he gets traded, I don’t see that as necessarily a bad thing. Cleveland has been a bad team for a lot of years and it remains to be seen whether they can invest in an offensive line that can actually protect any quarterback that’s running the offense.
