Dillon Gabriel, the Browns’ third-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, absolutely *erupted* in preseason Week 3, dropping a whopping 27 points on the Patriots in just one half of play. Now that the regular season is rolling, it’s wild how little chatter there is about that kind of early showing, especially for a guy who was fighting for his spot.
Gabriel’s Surprise Performance Changes the QB Room
Let’s rewind a bit. Coming into that third preseason game, everyone was locked in on Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Those two were duking it out for the starting QB gig, soaking up all the snaps in the first two games. But once Todd Monken named Watson the starter, it was Gabriel and Taylen Green’s turn to run the show in Week 3. This was a massive shot for the 25-year-old Gabriel, who honestly hadn’t exactly lit up the field in his previous mop-up duty appearances.
But man, did he seize the moment! He led that Browns offense to 27 points in a single half, showing off some seriously impressive rhythm and accuracy. Think about it: the entire Cleveland offense had only managed 17 total points across their *first two* preseason games combined. Then Gabriel comes in and nearly doubles that in half the time. He just looked so much more comfortable in the pocket than we’d seen before, hitting receivers with accurate passes all over the field, particularly in the intermediate zone. There was even this one play where the lefty just hung tough amid the pressure and threaded a needle to Ben Patterson breaking open over the middle. Talk about making a statement!
What It Means for Cleveland and Beyond
So, what’s the takeaway from that electrifying performance? It’s a huge boost for Gabriel’s position. That strong showing is almost certainly going to help him lock down the third-string quarterback job for the 2026 NFL season. Having a guy with that kind of potential and ability to put up points in a hurry sitting ready on your bench? That’s golden, especially in this league where quarterback depth is everything.
And while Gabriel was making his case, the Browns were also busy shoring up their roster elsewhere. They made a smart move, trading for offensive tackle Tytus Howard from the Texans. That kind of protection is always a priority. Across the league, we saw other big pieces shifting during the offseason too, with Trent McDuffie heading to the Los Angeles Rams, David Montgomery moving to the Houston Texans, and DJ Moore making his way to the Buffalo Bills. It just shows how many teams are still trying to find that perfect puzzle piece to get them where they need to be.
So as the regular season continues to unfold, keep an eye on Dillon Gabriel. He’s proven he can make plays and put points on the board when he gets a real shot. Knowing the Browns have that kind of talent ready to roll as their third QB? That’s a good problem to have. Let’s see if that early season rhythm translates into some real-game snaps if the situation calls for it. You gotta be hyped about a guy who can perform under pressure like that!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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