Insider Gives Positive Outlook on Dillon Gabriel as Browns Future QB
The Cleveland Browns could remain with Dillon Gabriel at quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Cleveland has shown confidence in Gabriel as their starting quarterback, despite him and the offense struggling. Although the Browns have seemed likely to draft a quarterback early in 2026, that may not be the case.
Instead, NFL insider Albert Breer of SI believes the Browns want to get as clean a read on Gabriel going into 2026.
“This is another team that wants to support its young quarterback, for reasons different than Tennessee’s. In this case, it’d be to get as clean a read on them as possible ahead of 2026,” Breer wrote.
Breer believes that could mean the Browns don’t trade David Njoku to give Gabriel as many weapons as possible to see if he is the guy.
If Gabriel continues to struggle, perhaps the Browns will address a quarterback early in the 2026 NFL Draft. But for the time being, Gabriel is the starting quarterback for Cleveland now and at least for the foreseeable future.
Browns Coach Confident in Gabriel
Despite Cleveland’s offense and Gabriel struggling, the Browns will remain with the rookie quarterback.
Cleveland is on its bye week, and ahead of the bye week, Stefanski made it clear that the Browns will remain with Gabriel at quarterback.
“I just want to make the point that we just have to be better in every area. And we’ll look at everything we do, including how we’re putting these guys in position to succeed,” Stefanski said. “Are we doing enough? When I say looking at every position, are we doing enough with the quarterback position? Do we need to do a better job? And I think I know the answer is yes.”
Stefanski, meanwhile, said Gabriel will continue to learn and get better, which they are confident about.
“Yeah, as you know, playing good on offense is about 11 guys on the field, and us as coaches doing our job. Obviously, young players will learn in each outing that they’re out there – I think Dillon will continue to learn, will continue to get better, but it’s really an entire offensive type of thing where we all need to be better.”
Gabriel threw for 156 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions last week in a lopsided loss to the New England Patriots.
Cleveland Not Thinking About Starting Sanders
Although Gabriel has struggled on offense, the Browns aren’t thinking about benching him.
Shedeur Sanders has been the backup quarterback, and there have been calls for the rookie quarterback to start. However, Stefanski said his focus isn’t on Sanders or letting him start.
“Yeah, honestly, my focus is where we are right now. That’s not my focus,” Stefanski said about Sanders.
Sanders was inactive due to a back injury, but he claims he’s healthy. During the bye week, the rookie quarterback dropped a bombshell, as he said he has to stay in Cleveland so he can stay ready.
“I’m not coming to CU homecoming, I can’t make it out there, I wish I could though. I just can’t happen, I got treatment out here. I gotta get ready, big ready,” Sanders said.
The Browns will go on the road to play the New York Jets in Week 10.
The Lightning could decide to promote some of them on the NHL roster
The Tampa Bay Lightning (5-4-2) are getting back in their groove, winning four straight games after their 2-1 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars. While the Lightning look to rise to the top of the Atlantic Division their American Hockey League (AHL, Syracuse Crunch) and ECHL teams (Orlando Solar Bears) are heading in opposite directions. The Crunch are cruising, with a 6-1-0-0 record, which leads the North Division, while the Solar Bears own a dreadful 1-4-0-0 record, allowing twice as many goals (20) as they’ve scored.
Even still, there are standouts littered in the minors for Tampa Bay, and in some instances, the Lightning could decide to promote some of them on the NHL roster.
AHL: Jakob Pelletier, F
The Lightning signed Pelletier to a three-year contract last offseason in the hopes he’d reach his massive upside. At 24 years old, the 2019 first-round pick scored four goals and seven assists with a plus-10 rating in 24 games for the Calgary Flames last season. That’s an average of about 14-24-38 over a full season, and he was usually playing bottom-six minutes.
Unfortunately, the Flames traded the winger to Philadelphia for Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost in late January. Pelletier couldn’t get back his offensive spark in Philadelphia. With the Flyers, he scored just three goals, five assists, and eight points in 25 games, sometimes being healthy scratched. When he was due $840,000 on a qualifying offer on a two-way deal, the Flyers non-tendered him, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Pelletier hasn’t made his debut with the Lightning, but with the Crunch, he’s thriving. Through seven games, Pelletier has notched four goals and five assists, with a plus-1 rating. He currently leads the Crunch in points and goals. In a 5-2 win against the Hershey Bears, Pelletier had two goals and an assist.
If Pelletier keeps this pace up, the Lightning could recall him, and he could be an injection of youth Tampa Bay desperately needs right now.
AHL: Dylan Duke, F
Dylan Duke is another young talent the Lightning hope can evolve into an NHL-caliber forward. He was drafted 121st overall by Tampa Bay after a stellar career with the Michigan Wolverines. In 2023-24, Duke was on a team with NHL draftees Gavin Brindley, Rutger McGroarty, and Seamus Casey. However, Duke led the team in goals (26) and finished third in points (49). Overall, he finished with 54 goals and 46 assists in 123 games.
Duke has just one goal in the NHL level so far, but he is turning a new leaf with the Crunch this season. He’s scored one goal and added six assists for seven points through seven games. He is currently in the top 20 in assists in the AHL level.
It appears Duke could be taking a big jump from his rookie season, when he scored 20 goals, 20 assists, and 40 points through 62 games. Like Pelletier, Duke is another young forward the Lightning are looking to develop into an NHL-caliber player. Unlike Pelletier, Duke is just 22, and he has time to grow and become another late-round NHL contributor for the Lightning.
ECHL: Spencer Kersten, F
It’s hard to find a standout for the Solar Bears this season, but there’s one player who’s been tried and true for them. Spencer Kersten continues to shine for Orlando.
Kersten spent four years with Princeton University and one year at Bowling-Green University before signing with the Solar Bears in 2024. In his rookie season, Kersten shined, recording 25 goals and 30 assists for 55 points through 60 games. That earned him a spot on the 2024-25 ECHL All-Rookie team.
This year, Kersten has increased his scoring output, with three goals and three assists for six points through five games. He is on pace to record 86 points this season.
That could earn Kersten a recall to the AHL. His strong play with Orlando earned him brief stints with the Crunch and the Belleville Senators on loan. He scored one goal in nine games with the Crunch, but he could be in line for more opportunities in the AHL if he keeps up this pace.
