The Cleveland Browns plan to keep quarterback Dillon Gabriel on their initial 53-man roster, according to a report Sunday, settling questions about the depth chart at the position ahead of the league’s final cut deadline.
Deshaun Watson has already been named the starter after winning a training camp competition against Shedeur Sanders. That left Gabriel, the third-round pick from a year ago, as the clear third option whose roster status had remained uncertain in recent days.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the decision, writing on social media: “Sources: Browns QB Dillon Gabriel is set to make Cleveland’s initial 53-man roster.”
The move means Cleveland will open the season with three quarterbacks: Watson, Sanders and Gabriel. Most NFL teams carry either two or three signal-callers on the active roster, and roughly a dozen or so clubs have typically chosen the higher number in recent years when the emergency third-quarterback rule is in effect.
Gabriel’s place on the roster does not guarantee meaningful playing time. Watson is expected to start, and Sanders stands next in line should the veteran struggle or get hurt. Gabriel would likely need an injury situation higher up the depth chart to see the field in regular-season games.
As a rookie last season, Gabriel appeared in 10 games and made six starts. He completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 937 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions while taking 19 sacks. He also added 86 rushing yards on 14 carries.
Those numbers came in a difficult environment for the Browns offense, which finished with a losing record. Gabriel’s yards-per-attempt average sat at a modest 5.1, reflecting a conservative approach and limited downfield success at times.
Before reaching the NFL, Gabriel built an extensive college résumé across stops at Central Florida, Oklahoma and Oregon. He finished his career with 18,722 passing yards and 155 touchdown passes, tying the FBS record for career passing scores while ranking among the all-time leaders in total touchdowns and starts.
In his final college season at Oregon, Gabriel threw for 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns while completing nearly 73 percent of his attempts. He led the Ducks to a Big Ten championship and earned conference offensive player of the year honors.
Gabriel showed some of that accuracy again in the preseason finale. He completed 12 of 15 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns against the New England Patriots, posting a near-perfect passer rating in limited action while the top two quarterbacks rested.
Coaches have long valued Gabriel’s football intelligence, quick release and ability to operate within an offense. Those traits could help him develop into a reliable backup over time, even if his ceiling as a long-term starter appears limited in the eyes of some evaluators.
The Browns selected Gabriel 94th overall in the 2025 draft, investing a third-round pick in the left-hander out of Oregon. Keeping him on the active roster protects that investment and avoids exposing him to waivers, where other teams might claim him.
Roster decisions remain fluid throughout the season. Injuries, performance and potential trades could still reshape Cleveland’s quarterback room in the months ahead. For now, Gabriel has secured his spot for the start of the year.
Whether he stays with the Browns long term or eventually finds a larger role elsewhere, the former Duck has shown enough in camp and preseason to earn another opportunity on an NFL active roster.
