The Cleveland Browns' quarterback saga has taken yet another twist, and this time it's not about Deshaun Watson's struggles or Shedeur Sanders' benching. It's about a guy who was barely given a chance to compete: Dillon Gabriel.
In Thursday's preseason finale, the former Oregon standout lit up the field, completing 12 of 15 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. It was a performance that had fans doing double-takes and questioning why the Browns' QB competition was so lopsided from the start.
Gabriel, who received minimal practice reps behind Watson and Sanders, admitted his frustration with the limited opportunities earlier in the preseason. "At some point you want to see your hard work coming to fruition in a real live setting," he 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."
His outburst didn't go unnoticed. Former NFL star Robert Griffin III didn't mince words, saying Gabriel is "making a mockery of the Cleveland Browns QB competition." Griffin added, "The competition was never fair to him. 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."
Social media erupted with similar sentiments. One fan wrote, "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 chimed in, "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 third added, "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."
The drama isn't just on the field. Reports have surfaced that the front office overruled coach Todd Monken on Watson's start, adding another layer of dysfunction to an already chaotic situation. And when Monken was asked after Thursday's game whether Gabriel would make the 53-man roster, he deflected: "I'm not going to get into that now. Andrew [Berry] and I haven't had a chance to really talk about that."
The Browns must trim their roster to 53 by Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Watson and Sanders are locks, but the third spot is up for grabs between Gabriel and Taylen Green. Given Gabriel's preseason performance, cutting him would be a tough sell to a fanbase already crying foul over the team's loyalty to Watson.
This isn't just about one preseason game. It's about a pattern of questionable decisions that have left Browns fans frustrated. From Watson's apology after being booed to the ongoing debate over whether he should even be starting, the quarterback room has been a circus. Gabriel's emergence only amplifies the question: What if the Browns had given him a real shot?
While Gabriel may not be the Week 1 starter, his performance has certainly made a statement. Whether the Browns' brass is listening remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: if Gabriel ends up elsewhere, Cleveland might regret not giving him a fair chance.
