ESPN insider Adam Schefter believes the Cleveland Browns should consider dealing one of their young quarterbacks to ease a crowded depth chart this offseason.
The Browns face an immediate choice between veteran Deshaun Watson and second-year prospect Shedeur Sanders for the starting role. Behind them sit Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green, creating a four-man group that could prove unwieldy once the regular season begins.
Schefter pointed out the oddity of the situation during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up.
“It’s interesting to me that they used a higher draft pick on Dillon Gabriel and he’s not even mentioned as a candidate for the starting job,” Schefter said. “It’s down to Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, according to Todd Monken. Dillon Gabriel not even in the picture. If he’s not in the picture, wouldn’t it make sense to move off him and make the quarterback room a little less crowded?”
Cleveland used the 94th overall selection in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft to land Gabriel out of Oregon. Sanders came off the board two rounds later. Teams rarely recover full value when trading a mid-round pick, yet Gabriel’s affordable rookie contract and prior starting experience could still draw interest from clubs seeking developmental talent.
Across the league last season, only 12 percent of third-round quarterbacks selected since 2015 remained with their original teams by Year 3 without starting at least half the games, according to league data. That historical trend underscores why Schefter sees a potential deal as logical.
Gabriel has spent most of training camp working with the second and third units despite drawing consistent praise from offensive coordinator Todd Monken. The second-year player has made the most of limited snaps, according to coaches.
“Everybody’s competing, but you’re not guaranteed the same amount of reps,” Monken said. “So it’s up to the player to take advantage and maximize those reps, which I feel like Dillon has done.”
As a rookie, Gabriel started six games and finished 1-5. He completed 59.5 percent of his throws for 937 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. His average of 5.1 yards per attempt ranked near the bottom among qualified starters, reflecting a cautious approach that protected the football but limited big plays.
A concussion sidelined him late in the season and allowed Sanders to seize the job. Gabriel has yet to reclaim a clear path back into the primary competition this summer.
Monken plans to announce after Wednesday’s practice which of the top two quarterbacks will start the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears. The chosen starter is expected to play the full first half while the other handles the third quarter. Those roles will flip for the second exhibition game against the Buffalo Bills.
That structure leaves only the final quarter for Gabriel and Green, sharply limiting their opportunities to stand out in front of evaluators. NFL teams typically carry three quarterbacks into the regular season, and fewer than 20 percent of clubs have rostered four for more than four weeks in recent years.
Trading Gabriel could free a roster spot and potentially return a mid-to-late round selection. The Browns invested significant capital in their quarterback group over the past two drafts, and thinning the room might allow more focused development for the remaining players.
Whether Cleveland acts on Schefter’s suggestion remains to be seen. The organization has emphasized competition at the position, yet the preseason plan and coaching comments suggest Gabriel sits outside the immediate picture.
For a franchise still searching for long-term stability under center, a measured move could bring clarity before the games that count begin.
