Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox just dropped a trade prediction that should have Cleveland Browns fans absolutely losing it. Seriously, if this deal ever went down, it would be an unmitigated disaster for the Browns and a total head-scratcher.
This Proposed Deal is a Total Mess for Cleveland
Okay, so the Browns have a full house at quarterback with four guys on the roster after the 53-man cutdowns. Dillon Gabriel is on injured reserve right now, which means he’s sidelined for the first four weeks. Deshaun Watson is the starter, Shedeur Sanders is the backup, and Taylen Green is their developmental guy. The buzz is that when Gabriel comes off IR, trading a quarterback makes sense to avoid keeping four on the active roster. Gabriel is pegged as the most obvious trade candidate.
But here’s where Knox’s prediction goes off the rails: he sees Gabriel being shipped to the Atlanta Falcons. The proposed return for Cleveland? A conditional 2027 seventh-round pick and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Let’s be real, this isn’t the kind of trade that’s gonna send shockwaves through the league or rock the playoff picture, but Knox says it would impact two teams “desperate for a franchise quarterback.” The problem is, neither of these QBs is likely to be that franchise guy, and this deal makes zero sense for the Browns.
Why This Trade Prediction Is an Absolute Nightmare
First off, giving up Gabriel for just a conditional seventh-round pick? That’s highway robbery, and not in the Browns’ favor. They spent a third-round pick on Gabriel in the 2026 NFL Draft. While they probably won’t get a third back, they could realistically ask for a fifth or sixth-rounder, maybe even in 2028 or 2029. A conditional seventh just isn’t cutting it for a guy they invested a premium pick in.
Then there’s the Tagovailoa factor. Why would the Browns even be interested? He’s on the veteran minimum, so the contract isn’t an issue, but the whole point of trading Gabriel is to clear a 53-man roster spot and stop hoarding four QBs. Adding Tagovailoa just brings them right back to having four. Plus, Tagovailoa isn’t some young prospect who’s going to develop into a star; he’s a veteran who couldn’t even win the starting job in Atlanta despite no real competition. An undrafted free agent, Jack Strand, apparently looks more appealing for the Falcons.
Both Gabriel and Tagovailoa are left-handed quarterbacks who aren’t considered high-upside starters. But Gabriel has three more years on a cheap rookie deal. Trading that kind of control for a one-year rental of Tagovailoa? That’s just giving up assets for no real gain. This prediction is a massive mistake for the Browns. It wouldn’t bring any positives to Cleveland and absolutely would not fix their four-QB issue.
Browns fans should be crossing their fingers this prediction never sees the light of day. Making a move this foolish would set them back in terms of draft capital and roster flexibility, all for absolutely nothing in return.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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