NFL rumors: Trade talk for a Browns quarterback has already started

Training camp hasn’t even begun, yet everyone is watching their QB situation 

The Cleveland Browns have five quarterbacks on the roster going into this year’s training camp. Traditionally, the coaching staff has only kept three on the active roster, with another listed on the practice squad. Deshaun Watson will most likely end up on IR, so between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, one will have to be dealt with in some fashion.

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While it is assumed that the two rookies will battle it out for QB3, all four will be given the green light to compete for the starting position. This year’s offense should be greatly improved. The Browns would like to retain all four quarterbacks, but how?

Flacco was signed to be the starter, in the opinion of most, while Browns GM Andrew Berry made a trade for Pickett that cost the team a draft pick. Both rookies would be snatched up in five seconds on the waiver wire.

In the end, somebody has to go.

Former Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers quarterback Kurt Benkert thinks he has the solution: trade one of the rookies.

Sanders was regarded as a first-round talent who dropped to Round 5 before being selected by the Browns. Two rounds earlier, Gabriel, out of Oregon, was taken. Yes, two quarterbacks in the same draft.

Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski had a long list of young quarterbacks he could have taken to develop, but his choice was Gabriel. There are some who believe the reason the Browns took Sanders was to become trade-bait when an NFL team’s starter becomes injured, or they aren’t satisfied with his production going into the season opener.

The strategy for the Browns would be to buy low and sell high:

But Benkert isn’t pointing towards Sanders – it’s Gabriel.

Benkert is part of a category of former players who want to pursue a new career as an NFL insider. He has been gathering a large following on social media. He lasted five years in the NFL after going undrafted in 2018 and then played a season with San Antonio of the XFL.

The former QB seems to indicate having knowledge of the thoughts down in South Beach:

It seems the Miami Dolphins quarterback situation has altered rapidly. Tua Tagovailoa is the undisputed starter when he isn’t hurt and basking in the South Beach sun while listed on IR. The team drafted Quinn Evers in Round 7 in this year’s draft.

Cleveland had two third-round picks and chose Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin at #67 with their first selection. When the #94 spot rolled around, Stefanski got his man, Gabriel.

And there were reports that Miami was very interested in Gabriel in the draft process, but had traded away both their third (#79) and fourth round picks (#116) in other deals, while their second round slot at #37 was considered too much of a reach for Gabriel.

With Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history and the fact that Gabriel is also a left-handed thrower who fits their offensive scheme, it just made sense for the Dolphins to draft him. But the Browns got to him first.

The rotation of the ball off a left-handed quarterback’s fingertips is in the opposite direction of a right-handed signal-caller. Then, the right tackle becomes your primary blocker.

But now Benkert is stating that the fact that Miami had targeted Gabriel as a strong scheme fit can be fixed with a trade proposal. After all, Cleveland has one too many bodies in the QB room, and this would solve that issue.

Does Benkert’s idea have any merit? Or is it far-fetched?

Indeed, the Dolphins don’t want to be in QB hell if – and when – Tagovailoa has yet another injury. They do have former first-round draft pick Zach Wilson on their roster, who has been primarily a backup in the league. Miami also has another rookie, undrafted Brett Gabbert from Miami of Ohio, under contract.

One thing about Benkert’s idea: Why on earth would the Browns up and trade away their third-round draft pick and hand-picked developmental quarterback without ever playing a single season? Barring a huge offer, which seems unlikely.

Joe Montana was a third-round draft pick. Can you imagine the San Francisco 49ers without him, and looking back and telling the story of when they drafted then traded the future Hall of Famer