Buccaneers, Falcons named top landing spots for recently-benched $6 million Browns QB

There’s no question that the Cleveland Browns possess a crowded quarterback room in early May. 

Unsurprisingly, the Browns have been rumored to trade one of their signal-callers before the start of the 2026-27 NFL season. In Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox’s mind, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons could be potential suitors for Cleveland’s 25-year-old former third-round pick QB, who was benched during the 2025-26 campaign.

“A year after drafting both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, the Cleveland Browns drafted another quarterback in Arkansas' Taylen Green,”  Knox wrote Wednesday. “The raw but talented dual-threat quarterback is an intriguing backup option for Todd Monken's offense.”

“With Deshaun Watson also in Cleveland's quarterback room—and set to cost $45 million whether he's on the roster or not—one of the Browns' second-year signal-callers will likely be out. Our money is on Gabriel, a 5'11" pocket passer who was a better fit for former head coach Kevin Stefanski than for the current offense.”

“While teams won't be clamoring to add Gabriel as a potential starter, the 25-year-old should draw interest as a backup. While his athletic limitations were on display last season, he looked like a capable spot starter, posting an 80.8 passer rating in six starts. Potential Suitors: Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.”

Out of Knox’s two landing spots for Dillon, the Buccaneers make the most sense. Of course, Baker Mayfield will enter the year at QB No. 1, but the backup job is still very much up for grabs. Although Jake Browning exhibited signs of being a serviceable fill-in signal caller with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023-24, he was turnover-prone with the AFC North franchise this past season. 

If the Browns were to trade Gabriel to Tampa Bay, the Oregon product would likely get a legitimate shot to compete for the No. 2 role immediately. The same couldn’t be said if Gabriel were to land with Atlanta, as Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa are the clear-cut No. 1 and No. 2 options. 

It’ll be interesting to see if the Buccaneers, Falcons, or any franchise takes a chance on the young QB this offseason.

More NFL: 

• Giants closing in on ex-Texans $2 million starter, Dexter Lawrence replacement
• Cowboys predicted to cut ties with George Pickens in favor of declining $10 million Bills WR
• Eagles named top landing spot for former Cowboys $21 million starter