Dillon Gabriel

Browns Rookie QBs Unlikely To Win Starting Gig; Dillon Gabriel Has Slight Edge Over Shedeur Sanders

The Browns’ four-man quarterback battle is slowly coming into focus as we approach training camp. With Deshaun Watson soon headed for the reserve/physically unable to perform or reserve/non-football injury list, The Athletic’s Zac Jackson tells us that he views it as Joe Flacco vs. Kenny Pickett for the starting job to open the season, and Dillon Gabriel vs. Shedeur Sanders for a potential roster spot and place on the depth chart.

Jackson essentially doesn’t believe either rookie has a chance to open the season as the new starting quarterback, saying that he’d “be stunned if either rookie can actually win the job in camp.” In addition to their competition with each other, each rookie is also battling the usual battle of a rookie making the jump from college football to the NFL, learning the playbook and maximizing reps, while trying to improve and outshine the others around them.

This secondary battle is an important one for the Browns to watch, though. Likely, neither Flacco nor Pickett are considered long-term solutions at the most important position in the sport. Flacco is 40 years old, and even if Pickett had a Sam Darnold-esque breakout season, he’s in the final year of his rookie contract after the Browns declined his fifth-year option.

Even if they wanted to re-sign him to a long-term deal off a successful 2025 campaign, Watson’s $80.72MM cap hit in 2026 is going to make that extremely difficult to do. With that cap crunch looming, Cleveland’s best chance is for one of the two passers on rookie deals with rookie cap hits to take over in the future. So, while the Browns have the important job of preparing Flacco and Pickett to open the 2025 season as a starter, they also have the very important job of making sure one or both of Gabriel and Sanders can either be ready to start later on in the season or even next year.

In that battle, so far, Jackson posits that Gabriel has the early edge over Sanders. Gabriel got starter snaps in the spring, while Sanders’s recent run-ins with the law have not dispelled rumors of immaturity. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com tends to agree with Jackson on this point, claiming that “Gabriel has at least a slight edge over Sanders to make a legitimate push for the starting job.”

She praised Gabriel’s “computer-like processing speed and decision-making,” saying that he “looked solid and held his own…Thanks to his quick grasp of the terminology and playbook.” When Gabriel signed his rookie deal, we noted that he may hold such an advantage after having to learn three different offenses under eight different coordinators in time at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon while always working in a spread system that feeds off of quick decision-making.

We also noted that Sanders, on the other hand, has been coached by his father at every step towards the NFL since high school. While he, too, worked with several (four) coordinators and actually saw time in run-and-shoot and air raid schemes in addition to spread, ultimately, Gabriel had much more experience coming into a new place under new leadership and taking over with near-immediate success than Sanders did. That analysis seems to be holding true as both reporters see Gabriel quickly finding his footing in Cleveland.

Ultimately, Cabot doesn’t agree with Jackson that a roster spot is on the line; she believes both rookies will make the final 53-man roster, which we touched on, as well, considering that putting either rookie on the practice squad would expose them to the waiver wire first. For now, on the surface and in their own mentality, the rookies will be pushing to compete for the starting job at the open of training camp. In reality, the two have a much more important, long-term battle to contend with that could shape the future of the Browns organization.

Deshaun Watson Likely Headed To Reserve/PUP List, Longshot To Play In 2025

Jimmy Haslam effectively closed the book on the Deshaun Watson era in Cleveland, labeling the high-priced quarterback “a big swing and miss” earlier this year. Two years, however, still remain on the embattled QB’s five-year, $230MM fully guaranteed contract — a deal that has produced some significant headlines pertaining to an NFLPA grievance recently. Watson’s rehab also may soon create a complicated situation for a team that has added four new passers this offseason.

Watson had resumed throwing to receivers in the spring, having shed his walking boot. As for where Watson stands now, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot offers a few key details on the fourth-year Browns performer’s rehab journey from two Achilles tears.

[RELATED: Browns Not Planning To Trade One Of Their Rookie QBs]

As the Browns began a four-man competition between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, the team was “thrilled” Watson participated and has offered advice. Conversely, Watson beginning his rehab in Miami after his October 2024 injury did not go over well with some among the Browns, Cabot indicates. Watson as a mentorship presence certainly presents interesting optics given the on- and off-field developments that occurred since his Pro Bowl Texans days, but that appears to be happening as the Browns hold their competition.

Watson is mentoring both Gabriel and Sanders, per Cabot, who adds the veteran has taken Sanders “under his wing.” The 29-year-old passer has also shared thoughts on Kevin Stefanski‘s scheme with the two veterans, even after he fared poorly — as regular calls for his benching rang out last year — before going down with the first of his two Achilles tears. The second still appears likely to force Watson to miss a second full season; the first came when the Texans made him a healthy scratch throughout 2021.

As for Watson’s potential hopes of infiltrating the Browns’ QB mix at some point this season, Cabot notes he is expected to begin the season on the reserve/PUP list. That will knock Watson out for at least four games, and the Browns do not have to activate him immediately. Even if the Browns do designate Watson for return, they would have a three-week window before an activation decision would loom. Even as Watson has displayed progress thus far this offseason, Cabot adds a return to Cleveland’s active roster this season remains an “enormous longshot.”

Though, after parking Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on the PUP list early (to end his season), the team has not made that move with Watson. A reality in which Watson is ready to practice in October is on the radar, per Cabot; the ninth-year vet underwent his second Achilles surgery in January.

Watson’s albatross contract, repeatedly restructured (most recently in March), will undoubtedly remain a Browns issue for the foreseeable future. The Browns would be on the hook for an unfathomable dead money amount if they cut him next year; they would surely spread the $131.16MM across two years via a post-June 1 designation. Though, Cabot adds Watson remaining on the team — a scenario which would come about due to the restructures on his contract — as a veteran to complement the likes of Gabriel and Sanders in 2026 is not out of the question. In that scenario, another restructure — which would likely to require more void years manipulation — would happen, according to Cabot.

Cleveland is also setting up for a potential battle via an insurance measure taken out on the contract. Watson being unable to play this season puts a $44.27MM sum in play for the Browns to recover. Although the team could collect on other components of the policy to help soften the blow of an inevitable divorce, Watson being healthy enough to play in 2025 would affect a sizable chunk of the return. This will make potential Watson clearance an interesting storyline to follow, even as Haslam’s comments point to the team not having any plans of redeploying him.

Browns Not Planning To Trade Rookie QB; Latest On Joe Flacco-Kenny Pickett Contest

The Browns added intrigue to their unsettled quarterback room during the draft by respectively selecting Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the third and fifth rounds. Those two will be joined in training camp by veteran Joe Flacco and trade acquisition Kenny Pickett.

The latter has appeared to be in the lead for the starting gig on more than one occasion so far. Pickett – a Steelers first-rounder in 2022 – did not develop as hoped in Pittsburgh and was dealt to the Eagles last year. After a single campaign as Jalen Hurts‘ backup, the 27-year-old was acquired by the Browns as an option capable of handling QB1 duties.

To no surprise, Cleveland declined Pickett’s fifth-year option this spring. As a result, he is a pending 2026 free agent. Pickett’s market value will depend greatly on how he performs with the Browns, and keeping the starter’s role throughout the season would be key in helping his stock. Both Gabriel and Sanders loom as potential replacements in the lineup, however, and Flacco is certainly a strong candidate to open the year atop the depth chart.

Indeed, NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe notes Flacco may now be considered the favorite entering training camp (video link). In 2023, a midseason Flacco signing proved to be highly beneficial for Cleveland. The former Super Bowl MVP took on starting duties and helped lead the Browns to the postseason. Flacco, 40, returned via free agency after a one-and-done season with the Colts. He is the only signal-caller with a history in head coach Kevin Stefanski‘s scheme, something which will no doubt play a role in determining the team’s starter early on.

Both Gabriel and Sanders are under team control for the next four years, meaning they should be expected to remain on the roster once summer cutdowns take place. Wolfe confirms a trade involving either rookie should not be expected. That could leave the Browns in position to carry all four quarterbacks on their active roster, something general manager Andrew Berry recently expressed a willingness for. A more realistic scenario, though, remains either Pickett or Flacco being traded ahead of Week 1 (provided the Browns’ other passers remain healthy, of course).

As a result, the performances between Cleveland’s veteran quarterbacks will be worth watching closely this summer. The question of which signal-caller sees the first start in 2025 (presumably the winner of the Flacco-Pickett contest) will be key in determining which makes the most total starts this season. It will be interesting to see how first-team reps continue to be split once padded practices begin as the Browns continue their evaluation process.

Rookie Notes: Stewart, Eagles, Browns

It’s uncertain how far Shemar Stewart will take his standoff with the Bengals organization, but Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com believes it’s highly unlikely the rookie skips the 2025 campaign in an attempt to reenter the 2026 draft.

This does represent a possible solution for Stewart if he refuses to give in to Cincy’s demand to include a specific, guarantee-voiding clause in his rookie pact. Florio describes this path as “nuclear,” and the pundit believes this is unrealistic considering how much money the player would be leaving on the table.

At the very least, Stewart would be giving up his $10MM-plus signing bonus. It’s unlikely he’d be able to instantly recoup that money in 2026, as Florio is skeptical that the pass rusher would exceed or match his 17th-overall draft slot. Stewart’s year off from football would obviously be seen as a detriment, and Florio wonders if rival squads could also be wary of the player’s attempt to “buck the system.”

Assuming he falls down the draft board in this hypotethical, Stewart would also likely see a dip in the $19MM total value of his Bengals rookie contract. In other words, it could take the player years to recover the lost money.

More rookie notes from around the NFL…

  • While Stewart has generally been respectful throughout the ordeal, he’s also been clear on his dissatisfaction with the Bengals organization. As Florio notes, the rookie will have to tread lightly when it comes to public comments if he does ultimately put pen to paper. If Stewart decides to speak out after signing a deal, the Bengals organization could cite a breach of the “[p]layer’s obligation of loyalty to Club and/or undermines the public’s respect for the Club, Club coaches, or Club management.” The organization could look to make Stewart forfeit guarantees in this scenario.
  • Speaking of unique rookie contracts, the Eagles did something unusual with sixth-round OT Cameron Williams‘ pact. According to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, the Eagles guaranteed $676K of the rookie’s contract vs. the $201K that would normally be allotted for that spot. In return, the Eagles included an unusual split salary in the third year of the player’s contract, which would reduce the player’s salary if he lands on a reserve list. Per Fitzgerald, the Eagles are hoping to make this a precedent across all future draft picks as the front office looks to wrestle some contractual control beyond the fourth year of a rookie deal.
  • We heard the other day that the Browns were open to keeping all four QBs on their roster, including recent draft picks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. While the organization could try to get creative with stashing a rookie on the practice squad, Tony Grossi of 850 ESPN Cleveland doesn’t envision the Browns pursuing this path. Before a team can stash a player on the practice squad, that player would be exposed to waivers, and there’s a chance a rival squad takes a leap on Gabriel or Sanders if Cleveland tries to sneak them through.

Browns Open To Keeping All Four QBs

There is plenty of time before final roster cuts in August, but the Browns are already considering holding onto all four of their quarterbacks.

General manager Andrew Berry said (via Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports) that Cleveland could “absolutely” carry four quarterbacks into the regular season, provided, of course, that “they all play well enough.” According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, all four “answered the bell” this spring.

The Browns value Joe Flacco‘s familiarity with Kevin Stefanski‘s offensive scheme; those traits are also the reason that Flacco took limited reps during OTAs and minicamp, typically with the first team, per Epstein. That has allowed Stefanski and new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to sort through the team’s younger options: ex-Steelers first-rounder Kenny Pickett and rookie draft picks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

Pickett and Gabriel also played with the first team in the spring, but Sanders did not, per Epstein. He has “come on strong over the last two weeks,” according to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, and could still be a part of the starting competition in training camp.

If the Browns go with three quarterbacks, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal believes that either Flacco or Pickett will be the odd man out. Flacco’s experience is his biggest plus, but Cleveland was more aggressive in its pursuit of Pickett this offseason. The Browns traded for him on the first day of the new league year, while Flacco did not sign until April.

Obviously, the Browns are unlikely to cut Gabriel after drafting him in the third round. They could try to sneak Sanders through waivers after every other team passed on him multiple times in the draft, but he could be claimed if another squad’s backup gets injured during training camp.

Browns QB Dillon Gabriel Signs Rookie Deal

While the day was filled with snippets of Shedeur Sanders‘ reps at Browns Organized Team Activities today, the real news happened off the field as third-round rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel signed his rookie contract, according to a team announcement. No contract details have been released.

With Deshaun Watson dealing with injury and the quarterback room consisting of only a 40-year-old Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett on his third team in as many years, the Browns were constantly linked to a rookie quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. While many assumed that that quarterback would in some way or another end up being Sanders, a historically strange slide led to five other passers hearing their names called before Sanders. One of those names was Gabriel’s, which came at No. 94 overall.

After six years playing college football (three at UCF, two at Oklahoma, and one at Oregon), Gabriel only got better and better, even after a left clavicle injury ended his time with the Knights. Overall, Gabriel proved to be an elite producer who could protect the ball and score with his arm or his legs. He went 46-17 as a starter with the Knights, Sooners, and Ducks, showing an impressive ability to pick up new systems quickly and effectively.

That, contrasted with Sanders, who has worked under the same offense under the same coach since high school, could be a reason that Gabriel’s name has been seeing much more run in recent days as a contender for a role as QB1 or 2. One of the latest reports we’d seen saw Gabriel seemingly looking like the QB2 behind Pickett. The lefty seems to be making quick progress as he learns his fourth new offense in five years.

There will still be plenty of time for Gabriel to challenge Pickett or for Sanders to challenge them both or even for Flacco to get back in the picture. Regardless, Gabriel can now get his mind off contract negotiations and put all his efforts into football.

Gabriel is only the third Browns rookie to put pen to paper so far. Here’s how the rest of the draft class is looking:

Kenny Pickett Holds Early Lead In Browns’ QB Competition; Dillon Gabriel Next In Line?

Roughly two months remain until training camp, and minicamp is still weeks away. But the Browns’ quarterback competition will begin to take shape at OTAs, which started today.

A player the Eagles did not deem a priority, as Tanner McKee is set to move into their QB2 role, is expected to take the first reps with the starters at OTAs. Kenny Pickett indeed will enter Cleveland’s on-field voluntary work receiving the first crack in the starting role, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot notes.

Pickett starter buzz, despite his quick Pittsburgh exit and uninspiring Philadelphia stay, has picked up recently. OTAs do not provide any padded reps, but they are certainly part of the conversation. The Browns have one of the more complicated quarterback situations in many years, especially considering the Deshaun Watson component, and Pickett is suddenly a key presence after effectively hovering off the radar at Eagles OTAs last year.

[RELATED: Who Will Lead Browns In 2025 QB Starts?]

Affirming Pickett will see the first work at OTAs, Cabot offered an update that Dillon Gabriel is likely set to be the second QB in this mix. Kevin Stefanski recently said Browns QB reps will not be doled out equally this offseason, and the May and June work will be important here. Training camp does not offer a setup where a four-man QB competition can realistically be conducted, due to time constraints, so it is certainly possible one member of this mix will be eliminated from a realistic starter path by that point. Through this lens, Gabriel’s OTA status becomes more noteworthy.

The Browns prioritized Gabriel in the draft, ranking him ahead of Jalen Milroe and new teammate Shedeur Sanders. GM Andrew Berry deemed the six-year college QB a better fit compared to Sanders; of course, that was before the team then circled back to the freefalling Colorado passer in Round 5. While ownership making its stance known re: Sanders is certainly possible, he is part of the competition along with Pickett, Gabriel and Joe Flacco. Sanders’ status also will overshadow Gabriel, who is in the historically strange position of seeing a QB drafted later by his own team dwarf his popularity.

Viewed as a Day 3 pick, Gabriel — who started at Oregon, Oklahoma and Central Florida — went off the board 50 spots before Sanders. Going at No. 94, the 5-foot-11 prospect appeared a handpicked option — whereas Sanders profiled as a value play. Sanders’ presence complicates Gabriel’s Cleveland future, but for now, the two-year Buffaloes starter resides in the background in Cleveland. He and Flacco, in some order, are set to enter OTAs in the Nos. 3 and 4 spots, Cabot offers. The Browns guaranteed Flacco $3MM, while cutting Pickett (and seeing no team claim him) would bring a $2.6MM cost.

All four will receive plenty of reps during OTAs, as concurrent QB drills will commence, but the team will need to make a plan for training camp. Team work once in training camp will begin to shape the competition ahead of the regular season, with the preseason providing the final evaluations. Teams rarely carry four passers on a 53-man roster, though it is not unprecedented. That said, the Browns either keeping all four or presenting a roster with two rookie draftees on the final 53 would mark a rare occurrence.

Watson’s status will still be worth monitoring, as he has resumed throwing, but the trade bust is not viewed as part of the current competition. His second Achilles tear is expected to lead to a placement on the reserve/PUP list, after residing on the active/PUP list (a camp-only designation) while the other four QBs vie to replace him as Cleveland’s starter. Even though Flacco and Sanders are bigger names than Pickett and Gabriel, the latter contingent appears to have the upper hand early.

Browns Rookie QBs Likely To Receive Fewer Reps In OTAs

As the Browns look forward to Organized Team Activities, head coach Kevin Stefanski reflected on what he’s seen thus far in the team’s offseason program. According to ESPN’s Tony Grossi, Stefanski seemed to indicate that the narrative that all four quarterbacks will be competing for the starting job is losing steam.

Technically, Cleveland rosters five quarterbacks. Incumbent starter Deshaun Watson remains under contract with the Browns, but there’s a decent chance he won’t be available in 2025. The 29-year-old’s lackluster 2024 campaign ended when he suffered an Achilles tendon tear, and when news of a second Achilles tear surfaced in January, his availability for next season immediately came into question. He can’t be entirely ruled out, though, as we saw reports this week that Watson had shed his walking boot and resumed throwing.

That being said, Watson will not be a factor during the remainder of the team’s offseason program. The four passers participating this summer are veteran Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. With so many low-dollar contracts involved, one would think that he starting job is up for grabs and anyone’s to take. That doesn’t appear to be the case, per Stefanski’s comments.

When asked how reps will be divided among the four, Stefanski gave the impression that it will not be done with an even 25 percent split. “It’s not going to be that way,” he told reporters. “The big thing for us is making sure we give the guys enough reps that they need, making sure they have enough for both learning the system and developing and for us to evaluate them.”

It looks like the veterans, Flacco and Pickett, will get the majority of the reps, and Gabriel and Sanders will need to make up for their lack of playing time with virtual reality technology via the team’s new virtual walk-through room. It seems the virtual reality trend, made popular by Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, is extending its reach. Daniels adopted the practice at LSU and made its implementation a requirement for any team that drafted him. As a result, Daniels turned in one of the greatest rookie seasons we’ve seen out of a quarterback, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and taking Washington to the NFC Championship.

The Browns will count on this technology now to help bring their rookies up to NFL speed. “VR can be a big tool, especially for young players,” Stefanski said. “It’s really dependent on the player, how they like it. That’s something we’ll definitely be working with the next three weeks.”

Stefanski didn’t give a timeline for when the team will make its decisions. Grossi points out that two-day joint practice sessions with other teams serve as crucial practices for Stefanski’s decision-making, and the Brown will get two such sessions before their preseason games with the Panthers and Eagles. He did say, though, that the staff would make a plan for training camp based on what they see in the next month or so.

At the moment, it seems Flacco’s experience gives him the edge. The 40-year-old passer has 17 seasons of NFL play under his belt, has won a Super Bowl, and has successful experience as the starting quarterback in Cleveland’s system. From there, the next few weeks will be crucial for Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders to establish themselves and gain ground in the position battle.

Browns Not Planning QB Trade; Kenny Pickett Frontrunner For Starting Gig?

MAY 23: During an appearance on ESPN Cleveland radio, head coach Kevin Stefanski said there will not be an even distribution of quarterback reps this offseason. That comes as little surprise, but the door is obviously still open to all four passers earning the starting gig depending on how training camp shakes out.

MAY 19: Since the Browns used a selection during the second and third days of the draft on a quarterback, questions have lingered about how they will sort out the position in 2025. Plenty of time remains for things to change on that front, but a few early indications have emerged.

Rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are joined by trade acquisition Kenny Pickett and veteran Joe Flaccore-acquired in free agency this spring. That quartet could shrink in size during roster cutdowns, but for the time being it can be expected to remain intact. Even in the wake of the Saints losing Derek Carr to retirement, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com writes no QB trade is being planned at this point.

If such a move were to be made, Cabot recently named Flacco as the passer likeliest to find himself on the move. For now, though, he is in position to compete for a spot on the depth chart upon returning to Cleveland. The 40-year-old helped guide the Browns to the postseason upon joining them midway through the 2023 campaign, and he represented a logical target to return this year. With Deshaun Watson unlikely to play in 2025 while rehabbing his second Achilles tear, Flacco could at least open the year as the starter with the rookies developing.

As Cabot adds, however, it is Pickett who appears to be the frontrunner heading into upcoming OTAs and June’s mandatory minicamp. The former Steelers first-rounder saw his Pittsburgh tenure end in short order after a disappointing spell atop the depth chart. His trade to the Eagles resulted in a one-year backup stint behind Jalen Hurts and a single start in Week 18. To no surprise, Cleveland declined Pickett’s fifth-year option for 2026, meaning he enters the year as a pending free agent.

In a separate piece, Cabot writes there will be a split of two QB pairings to divvy up reps during offseason work, which is a reasonable approach given the uncertainty surrounding the position. Pickett is slated to operate as the No. 1 (at least, to begin the process) and Cabot predicts he will be partnered with Gabriel. That would leave Flacco and Sanders alternating third-string reps, albeit with the potential to move up the pecking order depending on their performances.

Gabriel and Sanders will remain under team control through 2028 on the rookie deals, so the Browns can be expected to retain them well past this summer’s training camp. With Flacco and Pickett’s respective futures much less clear, though, it will be interesting to see how they fare during practice. The latter could help his market value to a great extent with a sustained QB1 run in Cleveland, and his audition period for the gig will begin soon.

AFC North Notes: Browns, Bengals, Smith

The Browns‘ quarterback room has been under a microscope for years, but this offseason drew added scrutiny with the pure volume of Cleveland’s transactions at the position.

The Browns first traded for Kenny Pickett before reuniting with Joe Flacco in free agency. They then double-dipped on quarterbacks in the draft, taking Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth.

Gabriel was expected to be a Day 3 pick, making his selection in the third round a “mild surprise,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, though Cleveland wasn’t a shocking destination. They hosted the left-handed passer for a visit on the same day as Sanders and Cam Ward, who both received more media attention for their links with the Browns. But the team was planning to take Gabriel at pick No. 94 all along, even if Jalen Milroe – who went one pick earlier to the Seahawks – was still available.

The Browns’ acquisition of four quarterbacks this offseason has raised questions about their plans for the position moving forward. At least one will likely be surplus to roster requirements in Cleveland, but as Fowler notes, injuries around the league could draw trade interest in Pickett or Flacco, both of whom have moveable one-year contracts.

Here is the latest from the AFC North: