With Flacco Gone, Dillon Gabriel Faces a Test Bigger Than Pittsburgh

When the Browns traded Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals this week, it did more than move on from a 40-year-old veteran. It stripped away the rookie quarterback’s safety net and turned up the temperature on Dillon Gabriel’s development. His debut against Minnesota showed progress, but now every throw, decision, and drive will be measured against the presence of the most talked-about backup in football, Shedeur Sanders.

The Browns’ decision to clear out their veteran depth was bold and, in many ways, overdue. This is a youth movement. The front office wants to evaluate both rookie passers before the franchise heads into another quarterback-rich draft. By dealing Flacco to a division rival, Cleveland accelerated its own internal clock. The moment Gabriel steps onto the field Sunday in Pittsburgh, he will do so knowing that Sanders, a fifth-round pick with a massive public following, is one snap, one mistake, or one bad quarter away from becoming the fan favorite to start.

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The Flacco Trade Changes Everything

Flacco’s departure reshaped Cleveland’s quarterback room overnight. What once felt like a layered developmental plan is now a two-man race played out under national scrutiny. Gabriel remains QB1, but the “when” and “if” of Sanders’ opportunity are now part of every conversation around Berea.

Kevin Stefanski tried to downplay the move, calling it “the next step in our evaluation process,” but the implications are clear. The Browns did not trade away their only veteran presence to sit still. They want answers. They need to know whether Gabriel can sustain drives, create explosive plays, and elevate a group of receivers who have yet to find rhythm. The Browns have failed to score more than 17 points in 10 straight games. That streak, fairly or not, now falls at Gabriel’s feet.

The timing only intensifies the challenge. Cleveland’s offensive line continues to shuffle, the drop rate among receivers ranks near the top of the league, and the team heads to Pittsburgh, one of the league’s most unforgiving environments for a young quarterback. It is a setup that could either cement Gabriel’s future or invite another wave of calls for Sanders.

Shedeur Sanders Waiting in the Wings

Sanders has been a magnet for attention since draft night. Even as the Browns selected Gabriel two rounds earlier, many fans wanted Sanders from the start. His charisma, college pedigree, and confidence have made him the most popular No. 3 quarterback in the league. Now, with Flacco gone, he is likely to be the primary backup, and the conversation surrounding him will not quiet down anytime soon.

The Browns insist Sanders is not ready yet, and Stefanski refuses to discuss how many reps he is receiving in practice. But trading Flacco sends a different message, one of belief that Sanders could play if called upon. That belief, however tentative, puts added pressure on Gabriel to perform immediately.

Stefanski knows what that pressure can do to a young quarterback. “We’re confident in Dillon’s ability to lead this team,” he said Tuesday. “He’s earned this opportunity, and he continues to work every day to get better.”

Still, confidence will not quiet the noise. Every incomplete pass will draw attention to Sanders. Every loss will amplify the argument for change. The Browns wanted to find out what they have in their rookies, and now they have guaranteed that the entire football world will be watching that process unfold in real time.

If Gabriel thrives, Cleveland can finally claim some stability at the most unstable position in its modern history. If he falters, the team might discover it not only turned up the heat but also lit a fire that could reshape the rest of its season.