Browns HC Todd Monken admits one quarterback is rising up the depth chart and could soon force a change
The quarterback position is the talk of the town for the Cleveland Browns. In what is a starting battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, another name is trending toward more reps during training camp.
The Cleveland Browns quarterback battle has been the focal point of training camp through the first week of practices in Northeast Ohio. Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders have split first-team reps as the two primary contenders for the starting job, but a third name is starting to generate buzz.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel has been making the most of his opportunities behind Watson and Sanders, and Browns heae coach Todd Monken has taken notice.
Gabriel earning more reps with his play
Gabriel has stood out early in camp as a quarterback who operates the offense efficiently, stays on time with his throws, and delivers catchable balls. He connected with multiple pass catchers during Monday’s practice, including a solid play across the middle of the field to tight end Harold Fannin Jr.. His consistency has been enough for Monken to acknowledge that increased reps could be coming.
“I said it the other day, everybody’s competing, but you’re not guaranteed the same amount of reps,” Monken stated. “So, it’s up to the player to take advantage and maximize those reps, which I feel like Dillon has done. So, we’ll see as we move forward, if that continues, we’ll continue to up his reps. He’s earned that. That’s what every player should expect, right? If they play well, you have to up the reps, or what’s the purpose of playing well?”
That’s a significant endorsement from the man in charge, and it opens the door for Gabriel to creep into the starting conversation if his play continues by the end of training camp.
Gabriel’s 2025 season was a mixed bag
Gabriel was a third-round pick out of Oregon in the 2025 NFL Draft and started six games for Cleveland last season. He posted a 1-5 record as a starter with 937 passing yards, seven touchdown passes, and two interceptions. He took care of the football, but explosive plays were at a minimum. Gabriel would not stretch the field, and the Browns’ offense struggled to generate big plays during his starts. Cleveland eventually turned to Sanders following Gabriel.
The ball security was encouraging, but the lack of downfield production held the offense back. A new coaching staff under Monken gives Gabriel a fresh opportunity to prove he can push the ball further while maintaining the accuracy and decision-making that kept turnovers low.
Watson is in the final year of his five-year deal with Cleveland and needs a strong season to earn another NFL contract. Sanders is looking to show he can be a long-term starter in his second year. Gabriel wasn’t in the mix for the starting job during OTAs or early in camp, but with Monken willing to increase his reps potentially, the door is open.
If Gabriel continues to play at this level and the coaching staff keeps rewarding him with more work, he could find himself genuinely competing for the starting role by the end of training camp — and that alone makes him worth watching as camp progresses.
