Browns’ Quarterback Situation Takes Shocking New Turn

Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken indicated Monday that second-year quarterback Dillon Gabriel has performed well enough in limited opportunities to warrant additional practice repetitions as the team’s quarterback competition unfolds.

Gabriel remains listed third on the depth chart behind Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Both veterans continue to split the bulk of first-team snaps.

Yet Gabriel received expanded work Monday, including snaps with the starting offense and the second slot in one seven-on-seven period after a solid opening stretch of training camp.

“I said it the other day, 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.“If that continues, we’ll continue to up his reps. He’s earned that. That’s what every player should expect, right? If they play well, you have to up the reps, or what’s the purpose of playing well?”

Monken has stressed throughout the spring and summer that all four quarterbacks on the roster are competing. Watson and Sanders remain the primary candidates for the starting role. Sixth-round rookie Taylen Green sits fourth.

The coach noted the practical need to establish an initial hierarchy for distributing practice time.

“When you start in the spring or the fall, you have to set some form of a depth chart in terms of reps, that’s just the way it goes,” Monken said.

Doug Farrar of Athlon Sports has also suggested that Gabriel could very well be the best option out of all the Browns’ quarterbacks.

“Deshaun Watson is throwing training camp interceptions at a truly alarming rate,” Farrar wrote. “Shedeur Sanders is still trying to put it together at the NFL level, and rookie sixth-round pick Taylen Green is more of an athlete than a pure quarterback at this point, which may leave Dillon Gabriel as the only sensible option.”

Gabriel, selected in the third round of the 2025 draft, began last season as the backup to Joe Flacco. He entered the starting lineup in Week 5 after Flacco was benched.

In six starts, Gabriel finished 1-5 while completing 59.5 percent of his passes for 937 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. A concussion in Week 11 against Baltimore ended his run as the starter, with Sanders taking over for the remainder of the year.

Gabriel closed mandatory minicamp on a positive note and has continued completing passes efficiently in the early days of camp despite fewer overall opportunities.

Watson and Sanders have alternated first-team work since the offseason program. Neither has fully separated himself, leaving the door open for continued evaluation.

Monken has said the eventual starter will be the player who gives the Browns the best chance to win their Week 1 matchup against Jacksonville.

Monday marked the first day in pads, adding a new layer of physical evaluation to the process. The coaching staff is still installing the offense and assessing how each quarterback handles the increased contact and complexity.

Gabriel’s recent consistency has forced the staff to reconsider the distribution of snaps. Continued strong showings could further blur the lines in what began as a two-man race for the starting job.

The Browns are expected to keep four quarterbacks on the roster. That places pressure on both Gabriel and Green to prove their value beyond the top two options.

Watson has expressed confidence in his health after missing all of 2025 recovering from Achilles injuries. Sanders has drawn praise for his playmaking ability throughout the process.

For now, Gabriel’s ability to capitalize on every chance has earned him a larger role in the daily rotation. How far that momentum carries will depend on sustained production in the coming practices.