Sportsnaut
A former player believes the Miami Dolphins could take advantage of the Cleveland Browns’ overcrowded quarterback room and land the rookie signal-caller they were aiming to take in April’s NFL Draft.
“I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Dolphins trade for Browns QB Dillon Gabriel at the end of preseason,” former NFL backup QB Kurt Benkert claimed in a Monday post on X. “They liked him a ton and saw him as an incredible scheme fit with athletic upside and were going to take him a few picks later, but then the Browns drafted him (per source). The Dolphins traded that pick away after Gabriel was no longer available.”
Benkert’s claim obviously has to be taken with a huge grain of salt. He isn’t a known insider in the sport. However, he was a member of the Falcons, Packers, and 49ers organizations in recent years. So it isn’t out of the question that he may be privy to certain rumors circulating in the league.
But does Miami making a trade for Dillon Gabriel make sense?
The Miami Dolphins must always be open to the idea of having more than one solid backup plan for starting QB Tua Tagovailoa. While he is a top 10-level QB, he has an extensive history with concussions and seems one bad hit away from his career being over.
In the offseason, Miami decided to add former first-round pick Zach Wilson to be Tagovailoa’s backup. And drafted former Texas star Quinn Ewers in the final round of the NFL Draft. However, Gabriel was drafted by the Browns four rounds ahead of him. Benkert’s rumor may be true, and Miami might be high on the Oregon product.
The Browns have put themselves in a difficult position this summer. After they signed Joe Flacco in free agency. Traded for Kenny Pickett, and then drafted both Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in April. Furthermore, starting QB Deshaun Watson could be back by midseason. One of them has to go before the 2025 campaign starts.
If an opportunity arises, the Dolphins could offer a future Day 3 pick and Ewers in a deal for Gabriel. It would give them an upgrade at the QB3 spot and a prospect to develop as a replacement for Tagovailoa in a few years. The Browns might be open to taking Ewers back and stashing the seventh-round pick on their practice squad.
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