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Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel may not return next season.
The Cleveland Browns are actively exploring ways to upgrade their quarterback room, and that process could come at the expense of recent third-round pick Dillon Gabriel.
Cleveland holds two first-round selections and 10 total picks in the upcoming draft. While the Browns are not expected to target a quarterback early, it’s believed they could address the position on Day 2 or Day 3. One potential name to watch is Penn State’s Drew Allar.
At 6-foot-5 with prototypical size and arm strength, Allar fits the mold of a developmental quarterback. He’s widely projected as a mid-round pick, but if Cleveland views him as a long-term project worth investing in, it could open the door to shopping Gabriel.
“As for drafting Allar, I’m all for taking developmental quarterbacks and seeing where it might lead,” Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot said. “If the Browns find one they like, perhaps they’d want to see what they could get for 2025 third-rounder Dillon Gabriel.”
Browns QB Dillon Gabriel May Not Fetch Much Via Trade
While the Browns would prefer to recoup an asset if they add another quarterback, the trade market for the record-setting college passer will be limited. Gabriel went 1-5 as a starter, throwing for 937 yards with seven touchdowns against two interceptions.
While he generally protected the football, Gabriel struggled to generate explosive plays, operating almost entirely in the short passing game. He averaged just 5.1 yards per attempt, ranking 48th in the NFL, and rarely challenged defenses downfield.
Adding to the uncertainty is the context surrounding his selection. Former head coach Kevin Stefanski reportedly played a role in Cleveland drafting Gabriel. With Todd Monken now at the helm, Gabriel no longer has that internal backing, further clouding his long-term outlook with the franchise.
“I believe the Browns will trade Dillon Gabriel and then draft a quarterback somewhere in the 30–60 range,” Zac Jackson of The Athletic said on The Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show. “They will go forward with Shedeur, Deshaun Watson and that third quarterback.”
Deshaun Watson Firmly in Mix for Browns
The wild card in the quarterback equation for the Browns is Watson. He missed all of last season recovering from two Achilles surgeries, only returning for three weeks of practice in December. Monken appears intrigued by Watson’s potential and his resume, which includes three Pro Bowls from his time with the Houston Texans.
“You’ve got two young players that still have a long way to go in terms of development, and that’s part of the learning curve in the NFL,” Monken said of Gabriel and Sanders. “And then you’ve got a player like Deshaun, who’s coming back from injury and at one time was a Pro Bowl player, and an elite player in this league, that we would love to tap back into that, let alone with Dillon and Shedeur.”
Watson may be the most accomplished passer on the depth chart. But he hasn’t looked good during his tenure in Cleveland. Watson has gone 9-10 since 2022, passing for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He is entering the final year of his deal with the Browns.
J.R. DeGroote JR DeGroote is a staff writer for Heavy.com, where he has covered the NFL, NBA, and trending sports stories since 2019. His work focuses on some of the most passionate fanbases in sports, including reporting on the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers. More about J.R. DeGroote
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