Gabriel was the initial contender for the QB1 job last season after an in-season trade sent Joe Flacco to Cincinnati. In six starts, he completed 59.5% of his passes, averaged 153.0 passing yards per game, and led the Browns to a 1-5 record. He suffered a concussion in Week 11 against Baltimore and lost the job to Shedeur Sanders while sidelined.
The current expectation is that Gabriel will play a limited role in the QB1 competition, with Sanders and Deshaun Watson serving as the primary contenders. Still, veteran Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot cautions that the door isn’t closed on Gabriel earning another look in the competition.
Cabot suggested on a Cleveland radio program that Gabriel could push back for consideration, saying he may raise his hand and remind everyone he shouldn’t be overlooked in the quarterback race. Her comments reflect a belief that the offseason program could reshuffle expectations if Gabriel performs well enough in workouts and mental reps.
Beyond the chatter, fans remain wary of Gabriel’s on-field results. While his 80.8 passer rating last year topped Sanders’ 68.1, the overall performance and consistency under pressure still weighed against him. The Browns’ decision may hinge on which quarterback can best absorb and execute the new offense, offering Gabriel a potential surprise path to a late-blooming comeback.
In the coming weeks, the offseason program will reveal whether Gabriel can translate classroom insights into game-ready execution, keeping him in the QB1 conversation despite a rocky first impression as a Browns starter.
