Dillon Gabriel may not be at the center of Cleveland's quarterback conversation. However, ESPN analyst Field Yates believes he still has a solid chance to rise from the Browns' open QB competition.

"This is the truest quarterback competition in the NFL,” Speaking on NFL on ESPN, Yates said. “What I mean by that is whoever performs best in training camp should be the week one starter."

Yates was clear that whoever performs best should get the job.

"Whether it’s Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, maybe even Dillon Gabriel, whichever one performed best in training camp should be on the field for that opening week," Yates added.

Yates also noted that Cleveland's situation is not unique, drawing a broader comparison to how teams typically handle such competitions.

“There are other quarterback competitions where, if you have a young quarterback and he narrowly outperforms the veteran quarterback in training camp, I still would lean on the veteran early in the season to alleviate some of the pressure on a young player in Cleveland," said Yates.

While Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders remain the leading candidates, Yates believes Cleveland's competition is open enough that Gabriel cannot be ruled out.

Gabriel entered the competition after a limited rookie campaign in which he started six games (1-5 record) and completed 59.5% of his passes. He recorded 937 yards with seven touchdowns.

Gabriel faces stiff competition from Watson, who is returning from injury, and Sanders, who gained starting experience last season.

Gabriel's performance in the OTAs and minicamp has certainly impressed Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot.

Browns insider sees promise in Dillon Gabriel

Though the odds are stacked against Dillon Gabriel, it doesn't completely rule out his chances of starting for the Browns.

Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot also highlighted Gabriel's spring performance in a recent column for Cleveland.com.

"Gabriel has had a very nice spring, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as the third QB on the Browns roster," wrote Cabot. "Gabriel is an excellent processor and game manager, and those traits were on display in organized team activities and minicamp....The truth is, Gabriel could step in and start a game for the Browns if necessary."

Cabot's perception suggests Gabriel remains firmly in the mix despite entering camp behind the more established names.

With the August 30 roster cutdown approaching, Cleveland's quarterback picture should become much clearer in the coming weeks.

With training camp still to come, Gabriel will have the opportunity to build on his strong offseason and make his case in what Yates described as the NFL's most open quarterback competition.

What do you think about Dillon Gabriel's chances in the Browns QB competition? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Sourav Ganguly

Edited by

Rudra Dubey