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Cleveland Browns have made their decision — rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel will remain the starter as the team heads into this week’s highly anticipated clash against the Baltimore Ravens. However, as the Browns attempt to stabilize their season, mounting skepticism surrounds Gabriel’s long-term future as an NFL quarterback.
Browns stay the course with Gabriel
Despite a rocky start to his professional career, Cleveland is standing by their young signal-caller for at least one more week. Gabriel, who replaced Joe Flacco in Week 5, has struggled to generate consistent offense. Through five starts, the 23-year-old has thrown for 869 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions, while averaging a league-low 5.0 yards per attempt.
His conservative play style and lack of downfield aggression have limited the Browns’ offensive ceiling, with fans and analysts alike questioning how much longer the team can afford to stay patient.
Critics question Dillon Gabriel’s NFL potential
Analysts are growing increasingly vocal about Gabriel’s early struggles. Zac Jackson of The Athletic offered a blunt assessment of the rookie’s trajectory, calling him “overmatched” at the NFL level.
“He’s not a developmental quarterback. He’s a quarterback who has hit a wall. You have a picture painted of who Dillon Gabriel is. He has done nothing but go backwards since that first game,” Jackson said Thursday on The Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show. “He’s overmatched — the numbers say that, the eye test says it. The reality is, he always was when they rushed him out there. They haven’t done him any favors. They aren’t doing him any favors with this wide receiver corps. But it’s very clear — he is not going to be an NFL quarterback. And that has been the case since the spring.”
The Browns had hoped Dillon Gabriel — selected in the third round of this year’s draft — could provide stability at the game’s most important position. Instead, his early performances have left fans wondering whether the team’s long-standing quarterback carousel is set to continue.
Rising pressure from Shedeur Sanders’ presence
The organization’s decision to draft Shedeur Sanders just two rounds after Dillon Gabriel has only intensified the scrutiny. Many within the fanbase are already calling for Sanders to take over under center, especially as Cleveland’s offense continues to sputter.
However, head coach Kevin Stefanski has remained tight-lipped about any potential quarterback change, emphasizing growth and patience instead.
“I don’t think it’s fair to speculate. We’re committed to getting better as an offense,” Stefanski said. “Dillon is certainly committing to improving every which way he can. And all the while, all of our players, young players, are developing and working so hard behind the scenes to make sure that they’re getting better on a daily basis.”
Gabriel’s window closing fast
While the Browns’ struggles go beyond the quarterback position — with offensive line inconsistencies and receiver issues compounding the problem — Dillon Gabriel’s time to prove himself may be running out. Cleveland’s 1-4 record during his tenure as starter has raised concerns about the team’s direction and the rookie’s ability to command an NFL offense.
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