Cleveland Browns make controversial QB decision on their initial 53-man roster that better mean one thing
The Cleveland Browns have reportedly made a decision on QB Dillon Gabriel that the fanbase is going to have mixed feelings on.
It is roster cutdown day around the NFL, and the Cleveland Browns are working their way down to 53 players on what will be their initial 53-man roster. One of the most compelling storylines to watch in Cleveland has been the quarterback battle behind Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. The question was whether the Browns would keep Taylen Green, Dylan Gabriel, or both.
That question now has at least a partial answer.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Gabriel is set to make Cleveland’s initial 53-man roster. The move comes off a strong preseason finale against the New England Patriots on Thursday, when the Browns picked up their first win of the preseason. Gabriel played the entire first half and finished 12-of-15 passing for 186 yards and three touchdown passes. He operated the offense efficiently, and it served as a strong last impression for the Browns’ coaching staff and decision makers.
Gabriel was a third-round pick for the Browns two drafts ago. He started six games as a rookie last season and threw seven touchdown passes with two interceptions. However, he managed just 937 passing yards on 185 attempts. He’s never really pushed the ball downfield much, and that has hindered his ability and his ceiling at the NFL level. The 5-foot-11 quarterback’s best route in the NFL is as a long-term backup.
Keeping four quarterbacks could be the play for the Browns
The problem is this becomes a debatable move by the Browns unless they plan to keep rookie sixth-round pick Green on the roster as well and ride with four quarterbacks, at least for now.
That has to be the move if Gabriel is on the initial 53-man roster. Green has the higher upside, and there’s a good chance a team claims him on waivers if the Browns were to cut him. Cleveland can’t risk that if they want to keep him around. Getting Green to the practice squad seems unlikely because another team would claim him first.
Green had 66 rushing yards in his preseason debut while going 5-of-7 passing for 27 yards. The key was no turnovers, and he accomplished that. Green is an elite athlete at the quarterback position who can run a 4.4 40-yard dash. Picking Gabriel over him for the third quarterback spot would be questionable at best.
The Browns still have decisions to make here, and the coming hours will tell us whether Cleveland rolls with four quarterbacks or makes a tougher call on Green.
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