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Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel is a potential trade candidate.<\/p>\n
Dillon Gabriel<\/a> is firmly on the outside looking in on the Cleveland Browns<\/a> quarterback competition.<\/p>\n The Browns got the first look at their quarterbacks on the field during veteran minicamp on Tuesday. Gabriel, Deshaun Watson<\/a> and Sanders were all in attendance. The Browns have called it an open competition for the starting quarterback spot. However, the reps on the first day tell a different story.<\/p>\n Sanders and Watson both worked with the first team offense. Gabriel was relegated to working almost exclusively with the backups during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 sessions.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was set up in a way for us to get a look at all of them,\u201d Browns coach Todd Monken said<\/a>. \u201cThe plan was to have Shedeur have a few more reps, but to let Deshaun and Shedeur both have reps with the ones.\u201d<\/p>\n ESPN Cleveland\u2019s QB tracker showed that Gabriel threw just six passes in the drills<\/a>, two of which were intercepted.<\/p>\n Dillon Gabriel Fighting to Remain With Browns<\/p>\n Gabriel may learn his fate soon. The Browns are heading into the draft armed with nine draft picks \u2014 including two in the first round. If Cleveland selects a quarterback \u2014 even in the later rounds \u2014 it puts Gabriel firmly on the trade block<\/a>, given his standing.<\/p>\n Gabriel understands the noise but is trying to stay focused on the task at hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just running my own race and developing each day and getting better,\u201d Gabriel said<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s all you can do. And that\u2019s what I\u2019m focused on. \u2026 I think I\u2019m just controlling what I can.\u201d<\/p>\n He reiterated that stance when asked about his lack of first-team action.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, I think I\u2019m just running my own race and focused on what I can control, and that\u2019s mastering my reps and doing it at a high level.\u201d<\/p>\n Alabama passer Ty Simpson has been frequently linked to the Browns<\/a>. However, he\u2019s widely viewed as the second-best quarterback available and Cleveland doesn\u2019t appear set to take him with either of their first-round picks.<\/p>\n Other options later in the draft include Drew Allar (Penn State), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), and Cade Klubnik (Clemson).<\/p>\n Browns QB Dillon Gabriel Had Rough Rookie Season<\/p>\n Gabriel entered his rookie season as the Browns\u2019 third-round pick out of Oregon. He took over for Joe Flacco<\/a> in Week 5 and went 1-5 as a starter. He was replaced as the starter in Week 11 after suffering a concussion, opening the door for Shedeur Sanders<\/a>, and never reclaimed the job.<\/p>\n Gabriel had not spoken publicly since being benched. His most recent on-field moment was getting sacked while Browns fans booed<\/a> him in brief relief of Sanders.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just continuing to get better and knowing that it\u2019s a marathon, not a sprint. I think I\u2019m taking it one day at a time,\u201d Gabriel said of what he learned from his first NFL<\/a> season. \u201cI think being a pro is just showing up every single day and doing your job and doing it at a high level. And I look forward to doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n The question is now if Gabriel can turn that mindset into meaningful reps and ultimately prove he belongs in the Browns\u2019 long-term plans.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tJ.R. DeGroote<\/a> 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<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Browns\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t