Dillon Gabriel Exposed 'Unfair' Browns Quarterback Battle

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images&period;

Dillon Gabriel Exposed 'Unfair' Browns Quarterback Battle

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Aug 28, 2026 10:49 AM ET

Dillon Gabriel was never in the running for the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback job this summer, but maybe he should’ve been.

Gabriel was outstanding during the Browns’ preseason finale on Thursday, completing 12 of 15 passes for 186 yards with three touchdowns. The former Oregon star looked incredibly sharp despite receiving minimal reps behind Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.

“At some point you want to see your hard work coming to fruition in a real live setting,” Gabriel told reporters. “And of course it wasn’t exactly what I wanted the first two preseason games, and that’s probably the frustrating part on my end. But then being able to go out today with a bunch of great dudes and a real [opportunity] to just make the most of it, maxing in the moment, that’s really what it’s all about.”

Even though Gabriel won’t be starting Week 1 for the Browns, fans are applauding his efforts in the preseason. Some are even saying he exposed Cleveland for holding an “unfair’ quarterback competition.

Aug 27, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (6) warms up prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesKen Blaze-Imagn Images.

“Dillon Gabriel is making a mockery of the Cleveland Browns QB competition. 3 TDs in the first half. The competition was never fair to him,” former NFL star Robert Griffin III said. “It’s why I said this offseason he needs a fresh start with a team interested in developing him to see if he can be a starter in the NFL.”

“In hindsight, totally predictable. Browns have a circus trying to figure out who should start and the one guy they say ‘ya no we’re good on him’ balls out and has the best preseason showing of them all,” another fan wrote.

“Why was Dillon Gabriel not even mentioned in the worst QB battle of all time? He’s never looked as bad as the other two,” a second fan said.

“The Browns QB battle having some of the most annoying talking points and needlessly toxic drama around it, just for Dillon Gabriel to have easily the best game of the 3,” a third fan commented.

Will Dillon Gabriel make the 53-man roster in Cleveland?

Browns coach Todd Monken was asked Thursday night if Gabriel will be on the 53-man roster. He was unwilling to answer that question.

“I’m not going to get into that now,” Monken said. “[General manager] Andrew [Berry] and I haven’t had a chance to really talk about that.”

The Browns will need to trim their roster down to 53 players by this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Their quarterback room will definitely feature Watson and Sanders, but we’d have to imagine they’ll at least keep one of Gabriel and Taylen Green.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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