Former Packer QB and quarterback tutor Kurt Benkert proposed Monday that Miami could be interested in a trade for Browns' third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel, the record-setting quarterback for the Oregon Ducks.
Currently Cleveland spends a pile of money on a motley group of ineffectual passers, injured DeShaun Watson and his five-year, $230 million contract, 40-year-old Joe Flacco, Pittsburgh castoff Kenny Pickett, a first-round pick in 2022 already on his third team, third-round pick Gabriel, fifth-round social media sensation Shedeur Sanders, son of an NFL Hall of Famer.
At mini-camps the latter four wait their turn for practice reps. Something's got to give.
The Browns pay Pickett $2.6 million, Flacco, $4.25 million, Gabriel and Sanders on rookie deals. Added to the dead money they shovel to Watson, it's a lot to pay for a 3-14 record.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see the #Dolphins trade for #Browns QB Dillon Gabriel at the end of preseason
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) June 9, 2025
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)… pic.twitter.com/mSejjcgSBY
Benkert runs something he calls "The Dime Lab" quarterback training school. A starting quarterback at the University of Virginia in 2017, he bounced around the NFL for four seasons as a practice squad guy before playing a year in the XFL with the San Antonio Brahmas.
His take on the Browns situation makes some sense in that they'll have to release at least one and possibly two from their crowded room before Labor Day. Gabriel has some value, particularly for the Dolphins as they employ a diminutive left-handed starter in Tua Tagovailoa and the southpaw Gabriel is unique match to their scheme.
The Dolphins had interest in Gabriel prior to the draft, but he went earlier than expected to Cleveland. They wound up picking Texas QB Quinn Ewers in the 7th round, 231st overall.
For a 5-11, 201 quarterback opportunities depend on being good in the locker room, intelligent, a quick study and courageous in opportunity. Falling to Miami wouldn't be the worst or most insensible thing.
For now, Gabriel's focused on the next rep, the next practice and blooming where he's planted.
Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel fires another BULLET into a tight window… yet another touchdown for the young lefty
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) June 11, 2025
pic.twitter.com/I56SSCa0Di