The Cleveland Browns are staring down a pretty wild suggestion ahead of the 2026 NFL season, with Bleacher Report's Moe Moton hitting them with a big "what if." He's out here pushing the Browns to trade a quarterback before Week 1 even kicks off. We're talking about second-year signal-caller Dillon Gabriel, and the call is to flip him for some draft capital. This isn't just a casual thought, either; it speaks volumes about where Cleveland might see their QB room heading.
Why Gabriel's on the Block
Moton's pitch is crystal clear: get a late 2027 draft pick for Gabriel if the chance pops up. Why? Because the guy looks absolutely buried on Cleveland's depth chart, plain and simple. The Athletic's Zac Jackson reportedly laid it all out for everyone: Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are locked in a head-to-head battle for that starting job. You read that right, a full-on battle. Based on Jackson's report of the team's quarterback competition, Gabriel's ceiling this coming season is a backup, at best. It really makes you wonder, doesn't it? A young QB, just starting his second year, and already looking like he's on the outside looking in before the season even begins. That's a tough spot.The Numbers and The Logic
So, if the Browns are indeed eyeing up more signal-callers in the 2027 draft, Moton's logic holds some serious weight: trade Gabriel now and get something back while you still can. He might be buried, but Gabriel isn't exactly a complete unknown. In his rookie year, across six starts, he put up 937 passing yards, tossed seven touchdowns, and only two interceptions. His completion rate sat at a respectable 59.5 percent. Those aren't world-beating numbers, sure, but for a team out there hunting a primary backup, especially one with actual game experience and a relatively clean turnover sheet, that's not a bad flier to take at all. The value is definitely there for a late-round pick. Someone, somewhere, might be desperate enough to make that deal.The Big Question for Cleveland
But here's the other side of the coin, the real head-scratcher for the Browns: can their coaching staff *really* be that confident in either Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders as their iron-clad starting options? I mean, a battle for the starting job usually screams "uncertainty," right? If that's truly the case, ditching Gabriel, even if he's slated as 'backup at best,' might actually be a super risky play. Having another option, another body who's seen NFL snaps and knows the rhythm of the game, could be a far smarter move for depth. You never know when injuries strike or when a starter just isn't performing up to snuff. Trading him means giving up that crucial insurance policy and potentially leaving themselves exposed. So, the Browns have a genuine dilemma on their hands here. Do they follow Moton's advice, try to scoop up some future draft capital, and trust completely in Watson or Sanders to carry the load? Or do they hold onto Gabriel as a valuable, if not starting, safety net? This isn't just about one player's future. It's about how much conviction they truly have in their top guys and what kind of long-term vision they have for the quarterback room. It's a tough question, and their answer could absolutely define their early season fortunes.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.