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As of July 21, veteran Deshaun Watson and second-year pro Shedeur Sanders are on track to resume competing for the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback job after veteran Browns players report for training camp on July 28.
For an article posted late Monday night, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand noted that Watson will remain with Cleveland through the end of the 2026 season since he "is untradeable and un-cuttable because of his guaranteed contract." Grossi also said that either Sanders or 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel "will be expendable" by the time the preseason wraps up.
The "odds-on choice" to be traded among Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel is...
"Gabriel appears the odds-on choice to be moved," Grossi explained. "[First-year Browns head coach Todd Monken] reduced him to QB3 in the spring season, and the Browns gave his No. 8 to Jared Verse. Monken also inadvertently dissed Gabriel when he said he believes he has two legitimate starting QBs in Watson and Sanders."
While at least one analyst seems to believe Gabriel could rise up the depth chart at some point between the start of training camp and the end of the preseason, there is no indication such a scenario will play out as long as Cleveland quarterbacks stay healthy through August. Along with Watson and Sanders, the Browns also have 2026 sixth-round pick Taylen Green in their quarterback room. Green presumably could become Cleveland's QB3 if either Sanders or Gabriel is traded.
What would Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel be worth for the Browns as a tradeable piece?
According to Grossi, neither Sanders nor Gabriel would "bring more than a fifth-round pick" back to the Browns via a trade. Grossi also added that "a trade of Sanders likely would have to be initiated by another team – such as when the Raiders sought Kenny Pickett last year."
In August 2025, the Raiders gave the Browns a 2026 fifth-round pick to take a flier on Pickett. One would think Cleveland wouldn't sell Sanders, who only made seven regular-season starts as a rookie, at such a low price unless he produces some nightmare performances later this summer.
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